Just the Good Parts

4.3

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Author(s)

Robbie Couch

Publisher

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Genre(s)

Age Range

12+

Release Date

September 29, 2026

ISBN

978-1665935333

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From the New York Times bestselling author of If I See You Again Tomorrow comes a stunningly romantic, speculative novel about a teen looking for his missing dad, who keeps getting pulled into others’ memories and crossing paths with a handsome stranger who also doesn’t belong there.

Caspen Coolsby’s dad is missing. But even though it’s only been a few months, everyone has given up on finding him. Except for Caspen.

He finally gets a break in the case when he meets his new upstairs neighbors and discovers he can somehow transport himself into each of the college students’ memories using candle scents that remind them of important moments. No one loved candles more than his dad, so Caspen is sure there must be clues pointing toward where to find him hidden in the memories.

His thinking hits a snag, though, when a handsome boy named Lars keeps popping up in memories where he also doesn’t belong. As the lines between memory and reality begin to blur, Caspen can’t help but fall for the mysterious boy who keeps chipping away at the rose-colored lens he’s always seen life through. But will Caspen be able to find his dad and his crush outside of these stolen moments if it means reliving the hard truths of his past and not just the good parts?

Editor review

1 review

A Heavy and Emotional Speculative Novel

April 29, 2026 (Updated: June 12, 2026)

Overall rating

4.3

Plot

4.0

Characters

5.0

Writing Style

4.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

N/A

Robbie Couch’s JUST THE GOOD PARTS is a speculative fiction novel that explores grief and longing. Caspen’s father went missing a few months ago, but Caspen feels like he’s the only one still searching for him. After his new upstairs neighbors move in, Caspen discovers that he can transport himself into their memories using candle scents. During these visits, Caspen encounters Lars. Lars keeps showing up in these memories while Caspen is trying to search for clues about his missing father.

The entire novel is told from the point of view of Caspen. He’s searching for any clues about his father’s disappearance and, even from the beginning, that desperation and drive is present. Caspen is a sweet character, but he’s also a flawed character as well, something that he’s forced to confront as the story goes on.

The side characters in this novel are just as interesting, but to a different point. Casper’s family, his friends, even the new people he meets. They feel fleshed out, like people you could actually meet in the real world. The human feel of these characters helps the novel along the way. It deepens the story and the plot.

I’ve read a couple of books by Robbie Couch and he has a way with emotional writing. This novel is no exception. He describes the emotional state of Caspen in a way that resonates with readers. It is a slow build up, emotions being drawn out and expanded until readers understand exactly why Caspen feels the way he does. There were several moments that made me teary-eyed, but I loved it the entire time. Robbie’s grasp of emotions and his willingness to share even the most heartbreaking emotion with readers helps the novel flourish.

This is an extremely hard book to review without spoilers, but spoilers would also ruin the twists in this book. So, I am going to try and be as vague as possible in this part of the review. There is enough conflict in the book, though conflict may not be the right wording, to drive the story forward. The pacing felt a bit off to me and more than once I struggled to maintain a vested interest in the plot. However, the characters and emotions of the book typically overrode any pacing issues.

JUST THE GOOD PARTS is a book that begs to be read. If you’re searching for an emotional journey that explores grief and the exploration of memory, this is a great choice. I also think it’s best read without spoilers.