The Best Week That Never Happened book cover

Summary

For fans of Everything Everything and The Love That Split the World comes a breathtaking new love story about living each day as if it were your last…

After her parents’ bitter divorce, family vacations to the Big Island in Hawaii ceased. But across the miles, eighteen-year-old Tegan Rossi remains connected to local Kai Kapule, her best friend from childhood. Now, Tegan finds herself alone and confused about how she got to the Big Island. With no wallet, no cell phone, purse, or plane ticket, Tegan struggles to piece together what happened. She must have come to surprise-visit Kai. Right?

As the teens grow even closer, Tegan pushes aside her worries and gets swept away in the vacation of her dreams. But each morning, Tegan startles awake from nightmares that become more difficult to ignore. Something is eerily amiss. Why is there a strange gap in her memory? Why can’t she reach her parents or friends from home? And what’s with the mysterious hourglass tattoo over her heart?

Kai promises to help Tegan figure out what is going on. But the answers they find only lead to more questions. As the week unfolds, Tegan will experience the magic of first love, the hope of second chances, and the bittersweet joy and grief of being human.

Click here to read an excerpt

Awards & Honors

Grand Prize Winner, Dante Rossetti Book Award in Young Adult Fiction

Finalist, International Book Awards

#1 New Release in Teen & Young Adult Magical Realism Fiction

Finalist, Best Book Awards

Winner, The Young Adult Book Awards

Finalist, Next Generation Indie Book Awards

Gold Medal Winner, Living Now Book Awards

Novel of Excellence, Author’s Circle Book Awards

Silver Medal, Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards

Dante Rossetti YA Fiction 2020 Grand Prize awardLiving Now Book Awards awardMoonbeam Children's Book Awards awardinternational book awards finalist awardBest Book Awards Finalist awardIndie Books Awards Finalist awardauthor's circle novel of excellence award

This debut novel is captivating and moving. A dazzling, emotional story of love, loss, and living in the moment.”

Kirkus Reviews
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A Reedsy Discovery MUST READ: “This book is a rare gem that will make you appreciate everything and everyone that you have in your life.”

Sigy George, Reviewer
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Dallas Woodburn weaves a bittersweet love story between star-crossed lovers—thwarted not only by distance but also by insurmountable tragedy. This captivating, poignant story is perfect for teens on the brink of discovering who they are and what really matters.”

Natalie Lund, author of We Speak in Storms

With its subtle blend of magic and reality, The Best Week That Never Happened reveals much about the power of love to rise above obstacles that seem insurmountable.”

Foreword Reviews

A poignant and gripping heart-tug of a page-turner filled with heart and hope. I couldn’t put it down. Magic.”

Jennifer Niven, New York Times bestselling author of All the Bright Places and Holding Up the Universe

The Best Week that Never Happened was heartbreaking and mesmerizing. Words escaped me when I finished because I was so enthralled by the beauty of this book. Nothing has ever made me feel this way after reading. Prepare yourselves for a book that will make you appreciate everything that you have in your life and you’ll fall in love all over again.”

Stacy Fetters, Librarian

The Best Week That Never Happened was a heartwarming, poignant and bittersweet read about love, hope, and discovering yourself.”

YA Bookers Blog

Excerpts & Extras

Read an excerpt published on The Nerd Daily!

Read an excerpt published on Hypable!

Additional reading: here are some books by Hawaiian authors I would highly recommend

Book Blogger Danielle @BookishRhetor put together an awesome Spotify music playlist inspired by the book!

Book Club Guide

I love to visit book clubs — both in-person and virtually over Zoom! It's so much fun to answer questions and hear readers’ thoughts and insights. Download the free Book Club Guides for bonus material about each of my books, recipes, discussion questions, and more!

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