How to Love You When You're Gone
$23.28
- Paperback
336 pages
- Release Date
28 July 2026
Summary
For fans of Ann Liang and Lynn Painter, this humorous, relatable novel gives an honest look at what it’s like to fall in love for the first time-while simultaneously healing from loss.
High school senior Mayte has never been kissed, but it hardly matters. Her abuelita has cancer, her half sister with special needs has moved in, and college is off the table-family comes first. She keeps her problems to herself; why burden everyone she loves with more?
Meanwhile, fellow senior A…
Book Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780316586054 |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10: | 0316586056 |
| Author: | Gabriela Gonzales |
| Publisher: | Little, Brown & Company |
| Imprint: | Little, Brown Young Readers |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Number of Pages: | 336 |
| Release Date: | 28 July 2026 |
| Weight: | 260g |
| Dimensions: | 208mm x 138mm x 22mm |
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What They're Saying
Critics Review
“Gonzales’ writing is simultaneously funny and an honest exploration of grief, responsibility, and first loves. Recommended for fans of Dustin Thao.”–Booklist
“A realistically messy and nuanced tale of first love.”
–School Library Journal“How to Love You When You’re Gone reads like a beloved YA classic that deftly balances heartbreak, humor, and hope. A funny, deeply human debut with a voice that leaps off the page.”–Nina Moreno, author of Our Way Back to Always
“Auggie and Mayte sparkle with a vulnerability and charm that make them impossible not to love. How to Love You When You’re Gone is a perfect balance of lighthearted and emotional.”–RaeChell Garrett, author of Promposal
“Banter, laughter, tears, oh my! How to Love You When You’re Gone has all the ingredients for a good rom-com, and they blend into something delicious. You’ll root for Auggie even while wanting to shake him, and you’ll want to hug Mayte and give her all the cookies. Most of all, you will root for them as their relationship grows. A funny yet touching story that will make you feel all the feels.”–Ronni Davis, author of This Night Is Ours
“Full of meaning and complexity, How to Love You When You’re Gone explores the depths of grief and selfishness after an unexpected loss. Gonzales expertly manages the intricacies of a family in mourning while balancing humor and a budding romance. A refreshing new voice in young adult fiction.”–Kelsey Rodkey, author of Last Chance Books
“Mayte and Auggie might not like each other much when they first meet, but fate (and, you know, the chemistry that leaps off the page) finds ways both hilarious and heartfelt to keep bringing them together. How to Love You When You’re Gone is about finding your voice (eventually), falling in love (doubtfully), grieving your losses (reluctantly), sticking close to your people (definitely), and owning your own story (always). And the answer to the title’s question: How to love you when you’re gone? The same way you should do everything–fiercely, fully, and forever. I’m completely sat for Gabriela Gonzales’s next book!”–Monica Gomez-Hira, author of Once Upon a Quinceañera
About The Author
Gabriela Gonzales
Gabriela Gonzales holds a BA in creative writing from Belmont University. A former literary nonprofit program coordinator, her poetry and fiction have been featured in Wigleaf, Lost Balloon, Chestnut Review, The Lumiere Review, and elsewhere. She has been nominated for Best of the Net, Best New Poets, and multiple times for The Pushcart Prize. She also performed last year at TEDx Nashville. Gabriela lives in Camp Hill, PA. How to Love You When You’re Gone is her debut novel.
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