Unfinished Goodbyes

A heart-wrenching coming-of-age story about loss, forgiveness, and the courage to keep living.

Seventeen-year-old Patrick Schwartz wishes he could erase one moment—the night of the accident that took his sister Jessi’s life. He was behind the wheel. Now, every day feels like a punishment he deserves. Haunted by grief, guilt, and a silence that’s consuming his family, Patrick drifts through senior year invisible to everyone except his best friend, Elliot—and the girl who refuses to let him disappear, Aliza Gillespie.

As Patrick begins to piece together fragments of that night through vivid, emotional dreams, he starts to uncover a truth more complicated than blame. His journey forces him to face the people he’s pushed away, including his father, Brent, whose own grief mirrors his in painful ways.

But healing isn’t simple. It’s messy. It’s slow. And sometimes, it means forgiving yourself for something you can never forget.

Unfinished Goodbyes is a raw and powerful exploration of loss, redemption, and the quiet strength it takes to move forward when everything feels broken. Perfect for fans of Jennifer Niven, Adam Silvera, and Gayle Forman, this moving debut will leave readers in tears—and in hope.

Blake Collins is an assistant principal and author who lives in Idaho Falls, Idaho. His debut young adult novel, Unfinished Goodbyes, explores grief, healing, and the power of human connection. Drawing on his background in education and his passion for emotional storytelling, Blake writes to help teens and young adults see that even in loss, there is always hope.