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The Importance of Friendship
Love Always, Bailey follows five friends who spend five days at a beach house where they discover the importance of friends and how quickly they can slip away. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The inspiration for the setup of this story was taken from my personal life. The Highview, the house the friends go to, is a real house in Manasota Key where I used to spend one week each summer with my friends. The friend group is based off of my own childhood friends, and many of the scenarios in the story were inspired by real-life scenarios.
Was there anything from your own life that you put into the characters in your novel?
No character in this story is a carbon copy of anyone I know, but they each have some of the best and worst qualities of my childhood friends. I think when pulling from inspiration, it is important to keep the element of fiction. In this case, I imagined how I thought the real-life friends would react to the major event and loss in this story. I know these characters so well because I crafted them to be fictionalized versions of people I know so well.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Friendship and found family are the most important themes that I explored in this book. I think it is so important to share with YA readers the importance of friendship. In adulthood, I find that so many adults don’t value their friendships, and I find that to be a huge loss.
What is the next book you are working on, and when will it be available?
I am currently shopping around 2 YA novels. One is about a young girl who has to move into a motel after her family suffers a loss due to addiction. The other is a YA version of The Wedding Planner meets The Wedding Singer: basically, a wedding planner’s very type-A daughter falls for the lead singer of a wedding band.
Author Links: Goodreads | Amazon
Morgan reunites with her friend group at The Highview, an oceanfront house where they’ve spent every summer since they were kids. There’s Noah, who hopes that his friends trust one of his plans one final time. Ethan, who mourns the loss of the girl he loved and never got to tell. Allie’s anger overpowers her desire to heal. And Ryder still holds out for one final game of Rock Paper Scissors with Morgan, hoping it can spark their once-picture-perfect love story.
Over the course of five days, the friends learn their friendship has changed, and they can no longer take for granted the closeness they once shared. Instead, they must learn to love and grieve simultaneously.
Love Always, Bailey
Samantha Cooke’s Love Always, Bailey is an exquisitely crafted coming-of-age tale that masterfully intertwines themes of friendship, grief, and the poignant journey of learning to let go. The narrative revolves around a close-knit group of friends – Morgan, Allie, Ethan, Noah, and Ryder – who anticipate a summer filled with their usual blend of fun, pranks, and cherished memories. However, they are unexpectedly thrust into a maelstrom of emotions following a life-altering incident. Choosing to return to their beloved beach house, the group seeks solace and hopes for emotional healing amidst their shared turmoil.
The story is remarkably engaging, and it stands out as one of the most impactful reads in recent memory, with its unique narrative structure skillfully juxtaposing past reminiscences and present realities. This approach particularly highlights Morgan’s distinct grieving process, setting it apart from her peers. A notable element of Cooke’s storytelling is the strategic withholding of a key truth from the reader. Initially perceived as an inconsistency in the narrative, this technique unfolds into a brilliantly executed foreshadowing, enhancing the depth and coherence of the storyline. The dialogue-driven narrative ensures a dynamic and emotionally resonant experience devoid of any dull moments. The tangible portrayal of emotions and storytelling prowess is commendable. The protagonist Morgan’s introspective moments, where she reimagines events, add a unique layer to the narrative. These instances offer intriguing glimpses into her mindset.
Love Always, Bailey is an exemplary work showcasing Samantha Cooke’s exceptional writing abilities. It’s a heartfelt story that resonates deeply, leaving a lasting impression on its readers.
Pages: 233 | ASIN : B0CLQKG47T
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