How I Lost You by Janet Gurtler

Published: April 2013

There are a few things Grace Anderson knows for sure. One is that nothing will ever come between her and her best friend, Kya Kessler. They have a pact. Buds Before Studs. Sisters Before Misters. But in the summer before senior year, life throws out challenges they never expected. And suddenly the person who’s always been there starts to need the favor returned. Grace and Kya are forced to question how much a best friend can forgive. And the answer is not what they expected.

Sometimes a story will find you when you are at a point in your life where you need direction from an outside source. How I Lost You, was the perfect outside perspective I needed this summer.

Fictional characters Kya and Grace are complete opposites, and could easily be mistaken for someone you have once had in your life. Most people, when they have reached the stage of adulthood, and “maturity,” have been both a Kya and a Grace.

Kya is the sad, lost girl. The one you have been friends with forever and you can’t ever fathom a future without her at your side. Even though much of the time spent together is spent repairing Kya, or covering for her for her mistakes. The Kya, the self-destructive girl who would rather mask her pain than face reality, and growing up and moving on. The only voice that matters is the selfish voice inside her head.

Grace. The friend that so badly wants to fix people. The kind of friend that takes in damaged individual in pursuit of helping them find their way. Grace, the constant worrywart, motherly friend.

While reading this book, I found myself lost within Grace’s emotions. I am currently in her shoes.  I have backed away from a friendship simply because I can’t do it anymore. The emotional strain, the burden, and the damages their negativity causes. The point where you always care about the person but you can never again have them in your life.

I loved this book. The characters were so vivid and real. It felt nice to know that somewhere, someone was feeling the same as me. If you’re missing an old friend, or suffering from a friendship-sized hole in your heart—this book is for you. The death of a friendship is a universal experience; this is a story everyone can relate to.

Clearly this struck an emotional chord with me. This book is one of those rare gems that successfully delivers everything; original lot, excitement, witty humour, inspiring courage and of course a touch of romance.  Thank you, Raincoast Books for this review copy.

Fun Fact: Janet is a Canadian author, woohoo!