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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
Okay, so I have always loved Sarah Dessen and she is probably still one of my favorite authors, but her two latest books have been let downs for me. When I like a book I'm reading, I usually fly through it and What Happened to Goodbye took me FOREVER to read. The plot in general kind of bored me and I didn't really find any of the characters very interesting. In fact, the main character McLean really annoyed me. It might just be me outgrowing Sarah Dessen books? I'm not sure, but this just wasn't my favorite at all.
This is not Dessen's strongest work. I read the ARC and I am hoping some of the inconsistencies and repetition will be changed before final publication. However, it's a good story. I liked McLean. I liked Dave. I liked Riley. I liked Opal. I liked Deb. I think McLean's dad could have been fleshed-out a little better and I think her mom could have been less two-dimensional, both important characters to the story.
I found it a bit hard to take in the basketball world, restaurant world, multiple personality world AND model-building world; that's probably what made the book such a slow read for me (six weeks, I think?)
By the fifth chapter, I found myself feeling everything should end a certain way and I was both pleased and disappointed when that happened. I was pleased because the ending is perfect and happy and it all makes sense. I was disappointed because life doesn't work that way and it would have been more satisfying for McLean to live with her mom while her dad left for his next job or something equally unfair.
I didn't like the constant repetition of some aspects - the damn quilts, the constant "why I hate my mother", and others - while some other aspects were mentioned at the beginning and then showed up at the end making me go, "Wait, what??" (i.e. the Gert. I could not for the life of me remember what that was when she found it in her car. The story clued me in on the next page or two, but still. It was off-putting). I really didn't like that McLean never appeared to honestly discuss her feelings with either parent; if that happened, we did not see the process and did not learn how everyone steered through that touchy topic, the one they'd been avoiding the entire book.
To me, this read like a work in progress that is almost complete and hopefully that's exactly what it is. I'm hoping the finished product is a little more solid (and with fewer typos!) All in all, though, it's a decent story and I enjoyed it.
I found it a bit hard to take in the basketball world, restaurant world, multiple personality world AND model-building world; that's probably what made the book such a slow read for me (six weeks, I think?)
By the fifth chapter, I found myself feeling everything should end a certain way and I was both pleased and disappointed when that happened. I was pleased because the ending is perfect and happy and it all makes sense. I was disappointed because life doesn't work that way and it would have been more satisfying for McLean to live with her mom while her dad left for his next job or something equally unfair.
I didn't like the constant repetition of some aspects - the damn quilts, the constant "why I hate my mother", and others - while some other aspects were mentioned at the beginning and then showed up at the end making me go, "Wait, what??" (i.e. the Gert. I could not for the life of me remember what that was when she found it in her car. The story clued me in on the next page or two, but still. It was off-putting). I really didn't like that McLean never appeared to honestly discuss her feelings with either parent; if that happened, we did not see the process and did not learn how everyone steered through that touchy topic, the one they'd been avoiding the entire book.
To me, this read like a work in progress that is almost complete and hopefully that's exactly what it is. I'm hoping the finished product is a little more solid (and with fewer typos!) All in all, though, it's a decent story and I enjoyed it.
I haven't read many Sarah Dessen books, in fact this is my second book I've ever read from her. But after reading this book I feel like running to my local bookstore and buying every single one of her books off the bookshelf and reading them.
McLean has to be one of the most relate-able characters I have ever read! I mean who wouldn't want to change who they are and start new when they move? I think every girl can see a little bit of themselves in McLean when they read this book and I think that's one of the most important and best parts of this story.
What I also liked about this book is the fact that for once the main character doesn't get along with her mother. I really liked that her father wasn't portrayed as some horrible dad or who never came around and for once it was the mother that messed up. People always expect the father to be the parent you doesn't get along and I don't think its really fair.
The thing I love about Sarah Dessen's books is that they are so realistic. This book really touched me and I honestly started tearing up in a few parts. It's like she knows exactly what to say to really make you feel like she knows EXACTLY how you're feeling.
I can't compare this book to her other stories but I can compare it to other novels I've read recently. This book is amazing, touching and true and I look forward to reading the rest of her novels.
McLean has to be one of the most relate-able characters I have ever read! I mean who wouldn't want to change who they are and start new when they move? I think every girl can see a little bit of themselves in McLean when they read this book and I think that's one of the most important and best parts of this story.
What I also liked about this book is the fact that for once the main character doesn't get along with her mother. I really liked that her father wasn't portrayed as some horrible dad or who never came around and for once it was the mother that messed up. People always expect the father to be the parent you doesn't get along and I don't think its really fair.
The thing I love about Sarah Dessen's books is that they are so realistic. This book really touched me and I honestly started tearing up in a few parts. It's like she knows exactly what to say to really make you feel like she knows EXACTLY how you're feeling.
I can't compare this book to her other stories but I can compare it to other novels I've read recently. This book is amazing, touching and true and I look forward to reading the rest of her novels.
*4.5 stars.
“It was amazing how you could get so far from where you'd planned, and yet find it was exactly were you needed to be.”
No matter how hard you try, you can never run from who you truly are.
“It was amazing how you could get so far from where you'd planned, and yet find it was exactly were you needed to be.”
No matter how hard you try, you can never run from who you truly are.
Great book. Very realistic-y in the beginning, but then the pace sped up and got very suspenseful.
3.5 Stars
This wasn't my favorite Sarah Dessen, but it was still a sweet coming-of-age story and the characters were likable. Especially Deb, a sidekick, but arguably more fascinating than any of the main characters. She is the over-achiever with the matching purses and headbands who's also a drummer in a trash metal band and knows about tattoo designs.
This wasn't my favorite Sarah Dessen, but it was still a sweet coming-of-age story and the characters were likable. Especially Deb, a sidekick, but arguably more fascinating than any of the main characters. She is the over-achiever with the matching purses and headbands who's also a drummer in a trash metal band and knows about tattoo designs.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
the thing that sticks with me from this book is her dads job. man it seemed so cool.
anyway I liked this, my first Sarah Dessen book. I was like almost in tears at the moms awfulness. just awful. otherwise it was pretty much like every other book I read.
anyway I liked this, my first Sarah Dessen book. I was like almost in tears at the moms awfulness. just awful. otherwise it was pretty much like every other book I read.
After waiting so long for a new Sarah Dessen book I was worried this one wouldn't stand up to the others. Thankfully, I worried for nothing. While I admittedly don't much care for the main character's name, it's a small thing to overlook in comparison to the fantastic story. Mclean's problems are very believable and totally relatable, and Dave is certainly one of the best Dessen boys out there.
It's all pretty much the same as Dessen's other work - the struggles of growing up, making friends, falling in love, dealing with family issues- but what keeps me coming back is how well she writes about these issues. Her characters always deal with real issues and sound very much like real people- Mclean is struggling to deal with the fall out of her parent's divorce and the impact of it on her emotionally, which all rings extremely true and very relatable.
It's all pretty much the same as Dessen's other work - the struggles of growing up, making friends, falling in love, dealing with family issues- but what keeps me coming back is how well she writes about these issues. Her characters always deal with real issues and sound very much like real people- Mclean is struggling to deal with the fall out of her parent's divorce and the impact of it on her emotionally, which all rings extremely true and very relatable.