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breezy610's review against another edition
5.0
very good. the character were very relatable to reality, which something that i find myself enjoy. only thing i didn't like was that Cora, in my opinion, really didn't try hard enough to get in contact with Ruby. She could have handed the stuff directly to Ruby and not have that problem of commucination. and Ruby, to stop acting like she didn't need anyone at all.
cboooots's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
3.75
jwilding's review against another edition
4.0
It would not be summer without a Sarah Dessen book. So lovely.
envyimperfection's review against another edition
2.0
I thought this book was cute and had a good message, but the writing seemed rudimentary and it took FOREVER for the characters to see any real growth and development.
the_illustrating_reader's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
slow-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
4.0
I like the way Sarah Dessen approached the issues in this book.
outoftheblue14's review against another edition
4.0
It's a lot easier to be lost than found. It's the reason we're always searching, and rarely discovered--so many locks, not enough keys.
I read Sarah Dessen's latest novel, Lock and Key, and loved it. Seriously, I'm starting to think I should check out more of her books, because each of them is amazing and unique in its own way.
The main character of this book is Ruby, a seventeen-year-old girl who's been abandoned by her mother. At first she tries living alone, thinking no one would be any the wiser, but soon her landlords understand the situation and report her. After a while, Ruby is sent to live with her sister Cora and brother-in-law Jamie. Cora left the family to go to college and never gave news about hersef again, so the relationship between the two sisters is a bit strained, especially because Runy is well determined to make it on her own without accepting anyone's help. Ruby finds herself suddenly in a new world--living in a big house and in a rich neighbourhood, going to an exclusive private school, being able to consider applying to college for the first time.
The main theme of the book is family. Ruby has to do a project about it for school, and struggles to find a definition for the term throughout the book. In the end, that's what she decides:
What is family? There were the people who claimed you. In good, in bad, in parts or in whole, they were the ones who showed up, who stayed there, regardless.
Another theme of the book is change. Ruby's condition changes in an instant, from poor girl struggling to make it on her own to rich girl enjoying a number of privileges. Yet it takes much longer to change yourself. As Ruby learns, there's a big difference between being given help and being able to accept it. And sometimes, it takes reaching out to someone else to save yourself.
I loved this book. I think Sarah Dessen's writing is equally appealing both to teens and to adults. I'd recommend this book to anyone.
I read Sarah Dessen's latest novel, Lock and Key, and loved it. Seriously, I'm starting to think I should check out more of her books, because each of them is amazing and unique in its own way.
The main character of this book is Ruby, a seventeen-year-old girl who's been abandoned by her mother. At first she tries living alone, thinking no one would be any the wiser, but soon her landlords understand the situation and report her. After a while, Ruby is sent to live with her sister Cora and brother-in-law Jamie. Cora left the family to go to college and never gave news about hersef again, so the relationship between the two sisters is a bit strained, especially because Runy is well determined to make it on her own without accepting anyone's help. Ruby finds herself suddenly in a new world--living in a big house and in a rich neighbourhood, going to an exclusive private school, being able to consider applying to college for the first time.
The main theme of the book is family. Ruby has to do a project about it for school, and struggles to find a definition for the term throughout the book. In the end, that's what she decides:
What is family? There were the people who claimed you. In good, in bad, in parts or in whole, they were the ones who showed up, who stayed there, regardless.
Another theme of the book is change. Ruby's condition changes in an instant, from poor girl struggling to make it on her own to rich girl enjoying a number of privileges. Yet it takes much longer to change yourself. As Ruby learns, there's a big difference between being given help and being able to accept it. And sometimes, it takes reaching out to someone else to save yourself.
I loved this book. I think Sarah Dessen's writing is equally appealing both to teens and to adults. I'd recommend this book to anyone.
acrox13's review against another edition
4.0
AMAZING! I was able to relate well to a Macy and Wes. I thought their relationship was amazing and overall it was just really nice to read a book where the ending is happy even when life gets really hard.
darkclouds's review against another edition
4.0
2024 REREAD:
This reread was long overdue. I think it's quite the statement for a book to have stayed with me since my early teens. I recall vigorously renewing my loan at the school library so I could revisit this story over and over. The hold it had on me until adulthood is quite bewildering.
Namely because I find no such reason to have such a deep attachment, except putting it down to plain nostalgia. I think it exceeds far beyond that though.
Reading this as an adult, with a greater open mind and level of understanding, has been quite the eye opener. Would I say I felt differently in my experience with reading this, this time around? Surprisingly... not so much. At least, not as much as you'd think.
I was still fiercely loyal to Ruby. Undeniably feeling a strong sense of empathy in her need to be independent, in her difficulty to trust, to share her feelings and to accept assistance. Were her choices and her attitude acceptable? I can still say yes. She was manipulated by an authoritative figure and someone who had emotionally gaslighted her into feeling there was no one else Ruby could trust. Her mother will always be the scum of the earth for me and at 17, there is viable justification for Ruby's behaviour and her actions. I guess some would still see this as problematic but I think Dessen built one of many kosher characters that exist in reality.
I think what made me realise the book was not quite perfection as I had once seen it, was the actions of the adults in the story. Questionable is all I can say.
It still aches to feel like I need more closure. We are given windows to peer through into the future of these characters but there's almost a ghost of a loose end that needs tieing up. I will always find myself wanting to get back to this story and relive the angst and pain of it, but I can cherish the memories it brought me and the comfort it provided to my younger self.
This reread was long overdue. I think it's quite the statement for a book to have stayed with me since my early teens. I recall vigorously renewing my loan at the school library so I could revisit this story over and over. The hold it had on me until adulthood is quite bewildering.
Namely because I find no such reason to have such a deep attachment, except putting it down to plain nostalgia. I think it exceeds far beyond that though.
Reading this as an adult, with a greater open mind and level of understanding, has been quite the eye opener. Would I say I felt differently in my experience with reading this, this time around? Surprisingly... not so much. At least, not as much as you'd think.
I was still fiercely loyal to Ruby. Undeniably feeling a strong sense of empathy in her need to be independent, in her difficulty to trust, to share her feelings and to accept assistance. Were her choices and her attitude acceptable? I can still say yes. She was manipulated by an authoritative figure and someone who had emotionally gaslighted her into feeling there was no one else Ruby could trust. Her mother will always be the scum of the earth for me and at 17, there is viable justification for Ruby's behaviour and her actions. I guess some would still see this as problematic but I think Dessen built one of many kosher characters that exist in reality.
I think what made me realise the book was not quite perfection as I had once seen it, was the actions of the adults in the story. Questionable is all I can say.
It still aches to feel like I need more closure. We are given windows to peer through into the future of these characters but there's almost a ghost of a loose end that needs tieing up. I will always find myself wanting to get back to this story and relive the angst and pain of it, but I can cherish the memories it brought me and the comfort it provided to my younger self.
rocknphoto's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
thesimplereader's review against another edition
3.0
As good, if not better than This Lullaby. Wonderful work! Great read!