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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
This is one of these books I've read many more times than I can count (though not in many years), and I still loved it.
So beautiful.
Update: I gave this book five stars, described it as "so beautiful" and I cannot remember a single thing about it, ups, sjshsg *demoted to 4 stars*
Update: I gave this book five stars, described it as "so beautiful" and I cannot remember a single thing about it, ups, sjshsg *demoted to 4 stars*
Sarah Dessen always writes a good YA contemporary. This Lullaby is no different, it has a great main character, awesome girl friendships, great side characters and a cute romance. This book has a bit of an older feel to it than some of Sarah Dessen's other books, the main characters are all over eighteen and they're smoking and drinking and driving (sometimes simultaneously but not often) and it just feels more grown up than some of her other books that are more first love or highschool based and that was great to see.
Remy has just graduated highschool and planed her mum's fourth wedding. She's having one last summer at home before moving across the country to go to college. She's supposed to have a fling for the summer and break it off before she goes to school. But in typical Sarah Dessen style Remy's summer plans are changed and she spends more time learning about herself, in a coming of age summer than having a fling.
Remy's group of friends are great, having a group of girlfriends is so important and each of Remy's are important as unique. They have back stories that are realistic and relatable but don't over complicate the plot. They girls have each other's backs completely, they bicker and argue but they aren't bitchy (thank you Sarah Dessen, bitching with girls in books really pisses me off). The zip cup throwing is great, that was fun and just an awesome show of friendship so read this book if only for the zip cup incident. But honestly, great female friendship group, the girls still have their summer regardless of how many boys happen to stir things up, it's a girls summer from start to end.
Remy's brother is a great element of the book too, not often do YA contemporaries have good brother sister relationships, but this one is done really well. Chris is at times irritating and ignorant of Remy's problems but he's always got her back and it's obvious he cares for her deeply. His grok friend is great too, the relationship between her and Remy is another way that Sarah Dessen shows female friendship and support despite difference.
The romance is cute and not the central element of the book, it's a book about love but not a book where love is the only main plot. Dexter is sweet and irritating and perfectly written for the purpose he plays, he's charming enough that you fall for him, raw enough that you root for him and disorganised enough that he irritates you into seeing it from Remy's perspective. He's an excellently written character and I loved that about the book.
Remy's coming of age in this book was written quite nicely and her influences from women older than her that aren't her just her mum were really key. The importance Sarah Dessen places on women who are older and wiser to guide her you get female leads is really something that I admire about her writing. The acknowledgement that we all learn and grow despite our age is an important aspect of this book addressed really elegantly through Remy's mum, who also has a nice little character arc too.
The side characters were so fun, Dexter's bandmates are all such characters and so are Remy's friends, ad even better is they don't all end up dating each other! The girls in Remy's friendship group don't all dye Descter's bandmates in the end and make one big happy family, which is perfect. The girls are such fun and there is so much girl time on page and implied which just makes me so happy. The guys too, they're all different, not generic YA make love interest best friend material, they too have back stories and depth to their character, great male friendships, this book is truly the standard that I've come to expect my YA contemporaries at now.
The final chapter before the epilogue really dragged this book down a star for me, like it want poorly written but it just felt forced and unsettled, there want a clear conclusion to the problems that needed resolving before such an ending could occur. The randomness and unexplained nature of the whole interaction in that chapter was just a bit if a dampener on the whole book.
So with the excellent aspects and the somewhat forced ending in mind, I have This Lullaby four out of five stars.
Remy has just graduated highschool and planed her mum's fourth wedding. She's having one last summer at home before moving across the country to go to college. She's supposed to have a fling for the summer and break it off before she goes to school. But in typical Sarah Dessen style Remy's summer plans are changed and she spends more time learning about herself, in a coming of age summer than having a fling.
Remy's group of friends are great, having a group of girlfriends is so important and each of Remy's are important as unique. They have back stories that are realistic and relatable but don't over complicate the plot. They girls have each other's backs completely, they bicker and argue but they aren't bitchy (thank you Sarah Dessen, bitching with girls in books really pisses me off). The zip cup throwing is great, that was fun and just an awesome show of friendship so read this book if only for the zip cup incident. But honestly, great female friendship group, the girls still have their summer regardless of how many boys happen to stir things up, it's a girls summer from start to end.
Remy's brother is a great element of the book too, not often do YA contemporaries have good brother sister relationships, but this one is done really well. Chris is at times irritating and ignorant of Remy's problems but he's always got her back and it's obvious he cares for her deeply. His grok friend is great too, the relationship between her and Remy is another way that Sarah Dessen shows female friendship and support despite difference.
The romance is cute and not the central element of the book, it's a book about love but not a book where love is the only main plot. Dexter is sweet and irritating and perfectly written for the purpose he plays, he's charming enough that you fall for him, raw enough that you root for him and disorganised enough that he irritates you into seeing it from Remy's perspective. He's an excellently written character and I loved that about the book.
Remy's coming of age in this book was written quite nicely and her influences from women older than her that aren't her just her mum were really key. The importance Sarah Dessen places on women who are older and wiser to guide her you get female leads is really something that I admire about her writing. The acknowledgement that we all learn and grow despite our age is an important aspect of this book addressed really elegantly through Remy's mum, who also has a nice little character arc too.
The side characters were so fun, Dexter's bandmates are all such characters and so are Remy's friends, ad even better is they don't all end up dating each other! The girls in Remy's friendship group don't all dye Descter's bandmates in the end and make one big happy family, which is perfect. The girls are such fun and there is so much girl time on page and implied which just makes me so happy. The guys too, they're all different, not generic YA make love interest best friend material, they too have back stories and depth to their character, great male friendships, this book is truly the standard that I've come to expect my YA contemporaries at now.
The final chapter before the epilogue really dragged this book down a star for me, like it want poorly written but it just felt forced and unsettled, there want a clear conclusion to the problems that needed resolving before such an ending could occur. The randomness and unexplained nature of the whole interaction in that chapter was just a bit if a dampener on the whole book.
So with the excellent aspects and the somewhat forced ending in mind, I have This Lullaby four out of five stars.
I can'd decide if it's a 3 or 3.5 star rating...
Definitely entertaining, but it takes some trudging through her being cynical about love. I could definitely see this one being made into a movie.
The feminism is ever-so-subtle in this one, but becomes a little bit more obvious when she's reading her mom's manuscript. Also, I'm pretty sure I need a Zip Coke now. Also, Jennifer Anne. I wanted more of her! She seemed very HBIC.
Also, I'm glad the girls converse about dating and whatnot. They joke about the main character not staying with one boy for long, but it isn't in a shaming way. They're very much like, "This is how she is. We love her." I can't remember which other character does this as well. Even to the point of reminding Remy that they're supposed to be dating more than one person, not getting attached, before the fall. It's nice to have an alternative to LOVE FOREVER AND EVER. You know? You know. I'm not knocking long-term relationships, but it's just NICE.
Also, glad to be back in the land of the nicer Dessen boys. Rogerson (Dreamland) and Macon (Someone Like You) made me want to take a break, but I'm glad I've kept going on. FOUR MORE BOOKS TO READ 'TIL I'M DONE WITH DESSEN-A-THON! WOO.
Definitely entertaining, but it takes some trudging through her being cynical about love. I could definitely see this one being made into a movie.
The feminism is ever-so-subtle in this one, but becomes a little bit more obvious when she's reading her mom's manuscript. Also, I'm pretty sure I need a Zip Coke now. Also, Jennifer Anne. I wanted more of her! She seemed very HBIC.
Also, I'm glad the girls converse about dating and whatnot. They joke about the main character not staying with one boy for long, but it isn't in a shaming way. They're very much like, "This is how she is. We love her." I can't remember which other character does this as well. Even to the point of reminding Remy that they're supposed to be dating more than one person, not getting attached, before the fall. It's nice to have an alternative to LOVE FOREVER AND EVER. You know? You know. I'm not knocking long-term relationships, but it's just NICE.
Also, glad to be back in the land of the nicer Dessen boys. Rogerson (Dreamland) and Macon (Someone Like You) made me want to take a break, but I'm glad I've kept going on. FOUR MORE BOOKS TO READ 'TIL I'M DONE WITH DESSEN-A-THON! WOO.
I always start a Sarah Dessen books with high expectations and I am never ever disappointed.
This was my first Sarah Dessen book . What can I say? It is quite a big book with 1,200 plus pages on my book reader! So, I'm going to need more time reading this one. I checked Goodreads and saw that it has quite a high rating. Taking that in consideration, I finally start flipping its pages.
The first part of the book quite intrigue me. There is this girl named Remy who doesn't believe in love. I was taken aback. I asked myself, should I go on reading? Where I go swooning even listening to one of the love songs... Remy cringe at the thought of it. Love songs are nothing but empty words of a promise of forever... which do not exist in her world. I can't truly blame Remy for thinking that way. You see, her mother is marrying her 5th husband! Unbelievable huh?! So, for Remy, nothing last forever. Everything ends up one way or another. Everything including love has an expiration. She doesn't want to go through with all this mess , so she kinda sets a time frame in her relationships ..then she ends it.
Then she met Dexter who is clearly out of her league. Dexter is lanky, clumsy, disorganized and a musician ! Which is a no-no for Remy!
No matter how many times Remy bitch around ( which seems to be her expertise! ) , Dexter was still there! Wow, Dexter ! That bad huh? Who could blame him? Remy is pretty , smart and a challenge? So, to end Dexter's relentless pursue, Remy agreed to be his "sort of girlfriend". Well, at least for the summer then she can dump him until the college starts. Gosh! What a plan, Remy huh? Dexter = Summer fling? *shakes my head in disbelief!
I don't really get Remy. Is this her game or what? Dexter as her sort-of-boyfriend? Like temporary? I think it's cruel. And Dexter? Why is he even doing this relationship thing? Remy can't even say she loves him?! Oh. This is just frustrating!
I am almost at the middle of the book.. but I still have a lot of huh?- moments. Certain conversation also bothered me. When they are talking all together.. Remy, Dexter, and Dexter's band mates..I get lost? Like, who's talking ? To whom? Or was I just distracted because those boys are sooo immature! Yes! How can you ever forget to pay your electric bill on time? And the finger pointing who's assigned to pay? Arrgh! So irresponsible! I can't tolerate this! And WTH is a potato song?!!! Ugh.
The ending was just so-so. I tried hard to get into the story. Sure, there's Remy's realization at the end which is good. That Dexter is probably the loose end that she needs. That Dexter could probably the one worth taking the risk. Just maybe, he could be the one.
"No relationship is perfect ever. There is always some ways you have to bend, to compromise , to give something up in order to gain greater... The love we had for each other is bigger than this small differences. And that's the key. It's like a big pie chart, and the love in the relationship has to be the biggest piece. Love can make up for a lot. "
I heard good things about Ms. Dessen's books.Yes, this one has a sweet story and Remy and Dexter are both interesting characters. But I never felt it. It's just unfortunate that this one's not for me. Maybe if I have picked the right one, then maybe this could turn out differently.
***For more of my review, please visit my Pink blog at http://sparklingpinkpages.blogspot.com/2013/08/my-review-this-lullaby-by-sarah-dessen.html
The first part of the book quite intrigue me. There is this girl named Remy who doesn't believe in love. I was taken aback. I asked myself, should I go on reading? Where I go swooning even listening to one of the love songs... Remy cringe at the thought of it. Love songs are nothing but empty words of a promise of forever... which do not exist in her world. I can't truly blame Remy for thinking that way. You see, her mother is marrying her 5th husband! Unbelievable huh?! So, for Remy, nothing last forever. Everything ends up one way or another. Everything including love has an expiration. She doesn't want to go through with all this mess , so she kinda sets a time frame in her relationships ..then she ends it.
Then she met Dexter who is clearly out of her league. Dexter is lanky, clumsy, disorganized and a musician ! Which is a no-no for Remy!
No matter how many times Remy bitch around ( which seems to be her expertise! ) , Dexter was still there! Wow, Dexter ! That bad huh? Who could blame him? Remy is pretty , smart and a challenge? So, to end Dexter's relentless pursue, Remy agreed to be his "sort of girlfriend". Well, at least for the summer then she can dump him until the college starts. Gosh! What a plan, Remy huh? Dexter = Summer fling? *shakes my head in disbelief!
I don't really get Remy. Is this her game or what? Dexter as her sort-of-boyfriend? Like temporary? I think it's cruel. And Dexter? Why is he even doing this relationship thing? Remy can't even say she loves him?! Oh. This is just frustrating!
I am almost at the middle of the book.. but I still have a lot of huh?- moments. Certain conversation also bothered me. When they are talking all together.. Remy, Dexter, and Dexter's band mates..I get lost? Like, who's talking ? To whom? Or was I just distracted because those boys are sooo immature! Yes! How can you ever forget to pay your electric bill on time? And the finger pointing who's assigned to pay? Arrgh! So irresponsible! I can't tolerate this! And WTH is a potato song?!!! Ugh.
The ending was just so-so. I tried hard to get into the story. Sure, there's Remy's realization at the end which is good. That Dexter is probably the loose end that she needs. That Dexter could probably the one worth taking the risk. Just maybe, he could be the one.
"No relationship is perfect ever. There is always some ways you have to bend, to compromise , to give something up in order to gain greater... The love we had for each other is bigger than this small differences. And that's the key. It's like a big pie chart, and the love in the relationship has to be the biggest piece. Love can make up for a lot. "
I heard good things about Ms. Dessen's books.Yes, this one has a sweet story and Remy and Dexter are both interesting characters. But I never felt it. It's just unfortunate that this one's not for me. Maybe if I have picked the right one, then maybe this could turn out differently.
***For more of my review, please visit my Pink blog at http://sparklingpinkpages.blogspot.com/2013/08/my-review-this-lullaby-by-sarah-dessen.html