Reviews - The Rest of the Story

1.64k reviews for:

In my reading world, Sarah Dessen novels are my home.
Picking up her stories is like sinking into a comfortable, reliable place.
The Rest of the Story is yet another outstanding and well-rounded novel from one of the YA Greats. I couldn't put this one down and finished it in a day.

madaubosh's review against another edition

5.0

Part of me regrets reading this book. Because now there's no more new Dessen content for me to read, and it's probably going to be years before there's a Dessen book on my to-read list.

I discovered Sarah Dessen more than a decade ago now. I was going through a lot and I found comfort in her books. I related to the characters, their struggles and there were times when these stories felt like one of the few things keeping me above water. Despite this, I knew there was a good chance that one day I would outgrow the Author. When Along For The Ride came out I was just leaving my teen years. I felt like it would probably be one of the last of her novels I would pick up. Despite that, every time I hear news of a new novel coming out I have to buy it. I need to read it, though always wondering if this will be the book that parts us.

The Rest Of The Story was not that book. I loved the characters. I laughed. I sobbed. Dessen has this way of dragging me into a book that keeps me captive until hours later when I've finished it. They have never been the sort of novels that I can slowly chip away at, comfortable with the sluggish pace. I can hardly bare to put them down. Was this book perfect? Definitely not. Saint Anything and Once and For All will remain tied for my all-time favourites of Sarah's novels, but this book was strong in it's own ways and has a special place in my heart all the same.

And now I wait for the news that Dessen has a new book coming out.

hccoleman's review against another edition

5.0

Always wishing for a Sarah Dessen romance and this one doesn’t disappoint. I wish she did sequels because I fell in love with this place and the people there (as always).

shannonlee912's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

eclwonderland2006's review against another edition

4.25

emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Book was great, but I didn't appreciate that the author added in LGBTG near the end.

cozy_bones's review against another edition

4.0

In typical Dessen fashion, I was swept away into the mostly ordinary life of Emma Saylor, but was never bored reading about her summer. She has a way of creating main characters that I always find relatable in one chunk of their lives or another. This book was no different, and I found myself able to really feel part of the story and get lost turning pages. While I feel the romance of this one was lacking a bit, the lake family aspect was just about perfect. By the end I was attached to all these quirky family members she also had been trying to piece together in the beginning, and it left me with a warm heart and a craving to go to the lake or a beach again. And to get a bunch of string lights hung up in my backyard and invite family over. Probably most importantly though, I loved Saylor's growth, not only in learning about her family and overcoming her fear of driving, but the decision to stop living her life like she was a leaf on a current and take charge.

No surprise, just another Sarah Dessen book I'd recommend♡