How to Love You When You’re Gone
Contributors
Formats and Prices
- On Sale
- May 26, 2026
- Page Count
- 336 pages
- Publisher
- Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
- ISBN-13
- 9780316586054
Price
$12.99Price
$16.99 CADFormat
Format:
- Trade Paperback $12.99 $16.99 CAD
- ebook $9.99 $12.99 CAD
- Hardcover $19.99 $25.99 CAD
- Audiobook Download (Unabridged) $24.99
- Trade Paperback (Large Print) $14.99 $19.99 CAD
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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 Auggie is set on attending an elite creative writing program. But as the self-proclaimed most boring person alive, he can’t exactly write the next great American novel when he’s struggling to write a short story for college applications.
After an awful blind date (“disaster” doesn’t even begin to describe it), Mayte and Auggie never want to see each other again. When forced together by their merging social circles, the pair must at least pretend to get along…but soon they develop actual feelings. Then tragedy strikes Mayte’s family. Auggie feels compelled to write her story to help her process and heal—but are his intentions truly selfless? The best story he’s ever written could impact the best friendships he’s ever had.
How to Love You When You’re Gone is equal parts heartbreaking, soul-healing, and absolutely hilarious from the very first page.
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"A realistically messy and nuanced tale of first love."School Library Journal
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“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
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“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
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“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
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“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
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“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
About the Author

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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