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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
emotional
medium-paced
Dessen writes cute, fluffy, tweeny books. I'm sure I would have liked this more had I been closer to 14, but it was still a fun read. As always, it works a bit better if you suspend your disbelief - like how has Mclean switched schools so many times but still seems to be graduating on time?
It really holds up with many of Dessen's favourite tropes. I do love that characters from other books are still popping up.
[x] protagonist with unique (or masculine) name
[ ] "not like the other girls" protagonist
[x] conflict with (or absent) mother
[x] protagonist is escaping unhappy things at home and goes somewhere new
[x] works in a cafe/restaurant
[ ] artsy male love interest
[ ] seemingly perfect older sibling
[ ]"alt" friends (gothic, loners, something about drugs, etc.)
[x] absent/dead/distracted father
It really holds up with many of Dessen's favourite tropes. I do love that characters from other books are still popping up.
[x] protagonist with unique (or masculine) name
[ ] "not like the other girls" protagonist
[x] conflict with (or absent) mother
[x] protagonist is escaping unhappy things at home and goes somewhere new
[x] works in a cafe/restaurant
[ ] artsy male love interest
[ ] seemingly perfect older sibling
[ ]"alt" friends (gothic, loners, something about drugs, etc.)
[x] absent/dead/distracted father
Sarah Dessen novels are the YA equivalent of chicken noodle soup. The basic ingredients are usually the same, with a few new elements mixed in from book to book. The end result is always a heartwarming, if somewhat familiar, story.
What Happened to Goodbye follows Dessen's usual formula - a loner teen finds her way with the help of some wacky supporting characters. But the compelling family drama that the main character was dealing with made this book stand out from Dessen's usual fare. These books are usually pretty predictable, but I found myself returning to this book with genuine curiosity over how Mclean's story would end.
Dessen has been writing these books for some time now, and it's nice to see that she is still challenging herself as a writer when it would be so easy for her to rest on the formula that has made her so successful. I'm excited to see what's in store for her next book.
What Happened to Goodbye follows Dessen's usual formula - a loner teen finds her way with the help of some wacky supporting characters. But the compelling family drama that the main character was dealing with made this book stand out from Dessen's usual fare. These books are usually pretty predictable, but I found myself returning to this book with genuine curiosity over how Mclean's story would end.
Dessen has been writing these books for some time now, and it's nice to see that she is still challenging herself as a writer when it would be so easy for her to rest on the formula that has made her so successful. I'm excited to see what's in store for her next book.
I had been dying to read this book for months. I am a huge, huge, huge fan of Sarah Dessen. I have read all of her books (I believe…). Most of which have ended up being some of my all-time favorite books. Her characters are always so unique and memorable, and her stories always capture the heart. All that being said, I was not a huge fan of her previous book, Along for the Ride. I am not sure why, but I just was not engaged by it. I still had high hopes when I heard about this book though. I mean, I have read and reread Just Listen and Dreamland so many times. Plus take into consideration This Lullaby, Lock & Key, The Truth About Forever, Keeping the Moon…it is hard not to be excited about a new Sarah Dessen book. This book did not make it to my top favorites of Dessen (those spots belong to Dreamland & Just Listen), but it did become another books that I absolutely love.
As always, the characters were absolutely brilliant. Mclean is a likable narrator who is easy to relate to and understand. The way she has reinvented herself with every move was an interesting touch. It made me wonder if I had the same chance, would I be able to do that myself? I think it took some courage, although it was also the way she hid from the world. As you can see, she is full of contradictions, just like any real person. Her father was also a favorite for me. He was funny, lovable, and sometimes just a little clueless. You could also understand how much he was still hurting from what had happened. Surprisingly, the romance was not a strong part of this book. Mclean and Dave had their moments, but nothing really comes to fruition until near the end. He is a Dessen boy, though. Another one that you cannot help but to fall in love with.
I loved the story. It is about so many different things, all of which tie together for a story on identity, family, and love. It is filled with quirky, lovable characters that will stay with you for a long time to come. It is an interesting journey to go on, but one that all of us make. As we venture(d) towards adulthood we all have to come to terms with ourselves and the people who complete our lives.
As I said this was not my absolute favorite book by Sarah Dessen, but it is a book to be added to my favorites list. It reassured my fangirlness that I still loved her stories and her writing. This is a book I would recommend for any fans of Sarah Dessen, and also for fans of books my authors like Deb Caletti or Morgan Matson. A lovely read well worth the time.
As always, the characters were absolutely brilliant. Mclean is a likable narrator who is easy to relate to and understand. The way she has reinvented herself with every move was an interesting touch. It made me wonder if I had the same chance, would I be able to do that myself? I think it took some courage, although it was also the way she hid from the world. As you can see, she is full of contradictions, just like any real person. Her father was also a favorite for me. He was funny, lovable, and sometimes just a little clueless. You could also understand how much he was still hurting from what had happened. Surprisingly, the romance was not a strong part of this book. Mclean and Dave had their moments, but nothing really comes to fruition until near the end. He is a Dessen boy, though. Another one that you cannot help but to fall in love with.
I loved the story. It is about so many different things, all of which tie together for a story on identity, family, and love. It is filled with quirky, lovable characters that will stay with you for a long time to come. It is an interesting journey to go on, but one that all of us make. As we venture(d) towards adulthood we all have to come to terms with ourselves and the people who complete our lives.
As I said this was not my absolute favorite book by Sarah Dessen, but it is a book to be added to my favorites list. It reassured my fangirlness that I still loved her stories and her writing. This is a book I would recommend for any fans of Sarah Dessen, and also for fans of books my authors like Deb Caletti or Morgan Matson. A lovely read well worth the time.
With What Happened To Goodbye, Sarah Dessen returns with a story about how to pick up the pieces after a family is destroyed. The book begins with Mclean and her father having moved to a new town, Lakeview. Mclean's father is a restaurant fixer, so every 6 months or so, they move to a new state, new town, new school. And at every new place, Mclean invents a new personality - cheerleader, drama buff, perfect student. In Lakeview, however, Mclean is forced, through a series of circumstances, to be herself.
The heart of the story is really Mclean's relationship with her parents, as she attempts to navigate her new life while attempting to recover from their ugly divorce. Her protectiveness of her father and her anger with her mother shine through as the dominant emotions in the book. Her memories of their old life, and her interactions with her parents in their new lives, are some of the strongest sections in the book, and have an amazing air of authenticity.
Of course, Mclean also makes friends, and meets a boy, Dave. Physics Bowl champ, math camp whiz, and all around genius, Dave is also in the midst of reinventing himself - as a normal kid. Their connection is instant, and they begin to navigate friendship and love, she resisting, haunted in the aftermath of her parents' divorce.
The ending felt a bit rushed, but, overall, those who like Sarah Dessen with enjoy What Happened to Goodbye. I read it in one night, all in one sitting. It was an excellent read.
The heart of the story is really Mclean's relationship with her parents, as she attempts to navigate her new life while attempting to recover from their ugly divorce. Her protectiveness of her father and her anger with her mother shine through as the dominant emotions in the book. Her memories of their old life, and her interactions with her parents in their new lives, are some of the strongest sections in the book, and have an amazing air of authenticity.
Of course, Mclean also makes friends, and meets a boy, Dave. Physics Bowl champ, math camp whiz, and all around genius, Dave is also in the midst of reinventing himself - as a normal kid. Their connection is instant, and they begin to navigate friendship and love, she resisting, haunted in the aftermath of her parents' divorce.
The ending felt a bit rushed, but, overall, those who like Sarah Dessen with enjoy What Happened to Goodbye. I read it in one night, all in one sitting. It was an excellent read.
Although I tend to read books for older teens which are more emotionally charged, I have loved Dessen's books for years now, simply because of how simple they are. They each have a similar theme: a girl is troubled, and she finds a boy who somehow turns her life around. Now while I am all about women not necessarily needing men, I think I adore her books because of the fact that they are so different than what I tend to read; they are light and you know they're going to have a good ending, because hey - that's part of the theme too. However, I have to say this wasn't one of my favourite works of hers. I adore Just Listen, The Truth About Forever, and Lock and Key. But this was just dragged out a bit too much for my liking. You want her and Dave to get together - yet practically nothing happens to them. And Dessen builds the story up to a climax - and then you're left feeling disappointed, because the surprise wasn't as good as you thought it was going to be. But then again, I think this has a lot to do with my age range. Although I wouldn't recommend this particular book to anyone over the age of 15, I still would recommend it to any younger persons, because she really is a brilliant author, and she definitely manages to connect the characters with her readers - depending on their age, of course.
This doesn't need a lot of selling, because by now Sarah Dessen has a dedicated following and a recognizable formula: girl with some problem falls in love and resolves the problem by the end. What moved this from a 3 to a 4 for me was one scene directly out of Chas. Addams (you'll know it when you read it). Honestly, I never thought that I'd giggle over a Sarah Dessen book, but that one scene? Giggleable.
Maclean - or Liz, Beth, Lizbeth or Eliza - is the product of a Broken Marriage. Mom stayed "home", marrying the basketball coach at the local university. Dad took a job as a restaurant consultant, and Maclean has chosen to stay with him, much to Mom's dismay. Their MO is to move to a town, fix a restaurant, then leave, mostly without saying goodbye (hence the title). This is their fourth move in two years and Maclean's become a pro. This move, however, becomes something more permanent, thanks to Dave, her next door neighbor, and Deb, the acronym-crazed student Welcome Wagon/school loner. By the end, she's put down some roots and reconciled with her mother, if not with her parents divorce.
ARC provided by publisher.
Maclean - or Liz, Beth, Lizbeth or Eliza - is the product of a Broken Marriage. Mom stayed "home", marrying the basketball coach at the local university. Dad took a job as a restaurant consultant, and Maclean has chosen to stay with him, much to Mom's dismay. Their MO is to move to a town, fix a restaurant, then leave, mostly without saying goodbye (hence the title). This is their fourth move in two years and Maclean's become a pro. This move, however, becomes something more permanent, thanks to Dave, her next door neighbor, and Deb, the acronym-crazed student Welcome Wagon/school loner. By the end, she's put down some roots and reconciled with her mother, if not with her parents divorce.
ARC provided by publisher.
I've read all of Sarah Dessen's books. I would consider myself a fan.
The thing about her books is that, yes, they are predictable. The main characters tend to have very similar voices, a complicated family situation, and some kind of overarching problem. With a couple of exceptions, the person who finally reaches through their barriers is a male romantic lead. There is plenty of symbolism.
Which is fine. Clearly it's working for her, and yes, they are good books.
But - is it just me, or was this not one of her strongest efforts? I rather wish that Dessen would get out of her comfort zone - set a book in a different location, give a main character a problem that can't be solved by reaching out to somebody, make things a little less...predictable. The cast of characters is fun, but they're really all people we've seen before (and I kept forgetting that Dave was not Nate). Mclean was engaging, but there was definitely a lot less tension in her story than there could have been.
Overall, then, a good story, but not one of the author's best.
The thing about her books is that, yes, they are predictable. The main characters tend to have very similar voices, a complicated family situation, and some kind of overarching problem. With a couple of exceptions, the person who finally reaches through their barriers is a male romantic lead. There is plenty of symbolism.
Which is fine. Clearly it's working for her, and yes, they are good books.
But - is it just me, or was this not one of her strongest efforts? I rather wish that Dessen would get out of her comfort zone - set a book in a different location, give a main character a problem that can't be solved by reaching out to somebody, make things a little less...predictable. The cast of characters is fun, but they're really all people we've seen before (and I kept forgetting that Dave was not Nate). Mclean was engaging, but there was definitely a lot less tension in her story than there could have been.
Overall, then, a good story, but not one of the author's best.
The "Dessen formula" never disappoints.
Dessen blends one part romance with two parts heart with a splash of fun. Garnish it with characters you wish you knew in high school and a great symbolism and you have the perfect contemporary YA novel.
Dessen blends one part romance with two parts heart with a splash of fun. Garnish it with characters you wish you knew in high school and a great symbolism and you have the perfect contemporary YA novel.
Probably more like 3.5. Fine, but not in the Top Dessens of All Time or anything.
This is one of the books where the minor characters and relationships were more interesting than the main character. I just didn't manage to get interested in McLean and reading this just became a chore.