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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
Really nice, sweet YA fiction. I would not recommend it to people that do not like YA fiction though.
I think I might spend my summer reading all of Sarah Dessen's novels. I liked this one even more than Keeping the Moon. She does seem to follow a bit of a formula: girl meets boy, loses boy, etc. But these stories bring me back to my youth, and even though they are fun YA chick lit, they're not lacking in substance. I'm left thinking about the characters, themes and passages from the book long after I'm finished. Good stuff.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Alcohol
Moderate: Death of parent
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“Love is needing someone. Love is putting up with someone's bad qualities because they somehow complete you.”
“I am coming to terms with the fact that loving someone requires a leap of faith, and that a soft landing is never guaranteed.”
“Love is so unpredictable. That's what makes it so great.”
I was going to rate this 2 stars and then I was reading through some other reviews and was reminded of something I apparently blocked out during my reread and I couldn't help but lower it a star. I would also like to start off by saying that I rarely dislike a book. I've only DNFed one book all year for context.
So let's start with the okay stuff. All of Dessen's novels feature a coming-of-age, usually over the summer. When I first read her stuff, as a kid, I saw myself in these characters and it made me feel less alone. That nostalgia is still there and I still think Dessen does a decent job of developing characters. There are always some cliched, quotable lines that somehow still get me and that happened a few times with this novel, too.
Now the stuff I struggled with. First things first, Dexter was WAY too much. In the first three chapters alone, Remy, the main character, told him to get lost in as many ways as humanly possible yet he STILL pursued her. He saw her as a "challenge." That's the word used in the novel but the idea of women being conquests who don't get a say in their own life is incredibly antiquated and, quite frankly, disgusting. Dexter had some redeeming qualities but I couldn't get past how he couldn't even respect basic boundaries.
Secondly, (and this is the thing another reviewer reminded me of) Remy lost her virginity in a very tramautic way and it is NEVER discussed. Based on the description, it sounded like borderline rape and we just move right past it and never came back to it. Like, excuse me, what? Young girls are supposed to be reading this? And what are they supposed to glean from that? That being blackout drunk and scared is normal for your first time? I get that this book came out damn near 20 years ago but it wasn't the Stone Age!
And lastly, there was just little nuggets of fatphobia sprinkled all over the place in this story. Every character who is described even slightly overweight is some kind of stereotype with very little characterization. The shitty stepdad is a giant, chubby man baby. The bigger-but-not-in-a-bad-way friend never has a romantic interest and is the constant caregiver of the group. The salon owner is over-the-top, a bit trashy and basically comic relief.
Read at your own risk, I know some people still love it, but it just wasn't for me. Trigger warnings for fatphobia, alcohol use and potential rape.
“I am coming to terms with the fact that loving someone requires a leap of faith, and that a soft landing is never guaranteed.”
“Love is so unpredictable. That's what makes it so great.”
I was going to rate this 2 stars and then I was reading through some other reviews and was reminded of something I apparently blocked out during my reread and I couldn't help but lower it a star. I would also like to start off by saying that I rarely dislike a book. I've only DNFed one book all year for context.
So let's start with the okay stuff. All of Dessen's novels feature a coming-of-age, usually over the summer. When I first read her stuff, as a kid, I saw myself in these characters and it made me feel less alone. That nostalgia is still there and I still think Dessen does a decent job of developing characters. There are always some cliched, quotable lines that somehow still get me and that happened a few times with this novel, too.
Now the stuff I struggled with. First things first, Dexter was WAY too much. In the first three chapters alone, Remy, the main character, told him to get lost in as many ways as humanly possible yet he STILL pursued her. He saw her as a "challenge." That's the word used in the novel but the idea of women being conquests who don't get a say in their own life is incredibly antiquated and, quite frankly, disgusting. Dexter had some redeeming qualities but I couldn't get past how he couldn't even respect basic boundaries.
Secondly, (and this is the thing another reviewer reminded me of) Remy lost her virginity in a very tramautic way and it is NEVER discussed. Based on the description, it sounded like borderline rape and we just move right past it and never came back to it. Like, excuse me, what? Young girls are supposed to be reading this? And what are they supposed to glean from that? That being blackout drunk and scared is normal for your first time? I get that this book came out damn near 20 years ago but it wasn't the Stone Age!
And lastly, there was just little nuggets of fatphobia sprinkled all over the place in this story. Every character who is described even slightly overweight is some kind of stereotype with very little characterization. The shitty stepdad is a giant, chubby man baby. The bigger-but-not-in-a-bad-way friend never has a romantic interest and is the constant caregiver of the group. The salon owner is over-the-top, a bit trashy and basically comic relief.
Read at your own risk, I know some people still love it, but it just wasn't for me. Trigger warnings for fatphobia, alcohol use and potential rape.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Sexual assault, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol
Minor: Addiction, Infidelity
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have so much love for this book. When I think back to my teen years, this is one of the first books I remember. I love the characters and the relationship between Dexter and Remy so much. Sure, there are elements of it that don't hold up, such as the friend groups fixation on insulting one girl about her weight. But, aside from that, I adore this book. Remy's character makes so much sense to me. I understand her hard exterior, and I love how goofy Dexter teaches her that love is okay after all!
Okay, the first time I read this book, I was thirteen. I loved it.
I still do, and maybe even a little bit more than I used to. Even though I've had none of the experences that Remy, the main character in This Lullaby, has had, I relate to her a lot. Unfortunately.
Remy is a certified Negative Nelly. She doesn't see the point in wasting time with anything pointless. This book is all about her discovering the positives of taking a chance on something that may not even work out, and I think that's a very important lesson (one I'm still trying to figure out, but whatever).
I'm kinda in a word-slump right now, I can hardly even string these sentences together, so I won't write much more. All I have to say is that Sarah Dessen's writing is so natural and it makes every one of her stories a masterpiece. Her characters are unique and relatable (I know that's usually seen as a lame compliment but these books are all about young adult experiences, which are very relatable and the characters should be too!) and they all have really awesome names, which doesn't hurt.
I still do, and maybe even a little bit more than I used to. Even though I've had none of the experences that Remy, the main character in This Lullaby, has had, I relate to her a lot. Unfortunately.
Remy is a certified Negative Nelly. She doesn't see the point in wasting time with anything pointless. This book is all about her discovering the positives of taking a chance on something that may not even work out, and I think that's a very important lesson (one I'm still trying to figure out, but whatever).
I'm kinda in a word-slump right now, I can hardly even string these sentences together, so I won't write much more. All I have to say is that Sarah Dessen's writing is so natural and it makes every one of her stories a masterpiece. Her characters are unique and relatable (I know that's usually seen as a lame compliment but these books are all about young adult experiences, which are very relatable and the characters should be too!) and they all have really awesome names, which doesn't hurt.
Remy was just infuriating. I found her personality to be totally unlikable and the way Dessen wrote her sounded totally implausible. I couldn't understand why if she had no faith in love then why would she keep acquiring boyfriends upon boyfriends. And she got mad at Dexter for totally uncalled for reasons. Him playing This Lullaby and the picture thing. Like come on.
I did like Dexter and that kept this book from getting a one star rating
I did like Dexter and that kept this book from getting a one star rating
Of course, I loved it. I always do everytime I read it.