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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Maybe my whole judgement is off but I needed a good book to distract me from stress and What Happened To Goodbye I'd just that. I liked Mclean. Sarah Dessen sure has her ways with female leads.
I picked up this novel knowing the style of writing the Sarah uses: girl meets guy, girl has some sort of problem (ie. Mclean's mom's affair) and guy helps her through it and in the end, they get together.
I liked this novel because of Dessen's style, it's familiar. But like all novels, there is something that you'll dislike or not approve of and my pet peeve is unique/weird names. Just like in 'Along for the Ride', Dessen's narrator has a unique name and does give an exclaimation to why she was given this name. The love interest, Dave, had a competely normal name. When I think of Mclean Sweet's name a string of Mr. Clean jokes run through my head.
In conclusion, I did like this book and its theme of finding one's self. The characters felt real and I especially like the character of Deb.
I recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys contemporary, realist, YA fiction. Can't wait to read Dessen's next novel. Maybe we could switch it up and write from a boy's POV.
I liked this novel because of Dessen's style, it's familiar. But like all novels, there is something that you'll dislike or not approve of and my pet peeve is unique/weird names. Just like in 'Along for the Ride', Dessen's narrator has a unique name and does give an exclaimation to why she was given this name. The love interest, Dave, had a competely normal name. When I think of Mclean Sweet's name a string of Mr. Clean jokes run through my head.
In conclusion, I did like this book and its theme of finding one's self. The characters felt real and I especially like the character of Deb.
I recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys contemporary, realist, YA fiction. Can't wait to read Dessen's next novel. Maybe we could switch it up and write from a boy's POV.
Not my favorite Dessen, but she portrays a difficult subject really remarkably well.
I started reading this book because i really just needed a good old horrible romance novel so i picked this up. not her best. not even close. but it was ok.
A good and healthy tween/teen read that is teaching about being your true self without being preachy. I passed it on to Mita and Meg with hopes they will read it and glean a bit!
Review originally posted on Heise Reads & Recommends
I can't believe it took me this long to get to one, but this is the first Sarah Dessen book I've read! The reason I didn't start before now is because my students were devouring her books already, so I didn't feel like I needed to read them to promote them to my students. I can see why my girls love her books so much, and I should have started before now; however, it was the premise of this one that really made me decide to finally pick one up for myself.
Dessen's writing takes me back to high school - it's really great contemporary realistic fiction. It felt honest and real and like I could have been living in this town and been friends with these people. I liked this particular book especially because of the dad and his relationship with his daughter. It was interesting to see the side of a divorce where the daughter wants to stay with the dad. It was also intriguing because of the dad's job - as someone who comes in and rehabs failing restaurants (it reminded me of that show, Bar Rescue). I found it really interesting to see some of the behind-the-scenes of the restaurant business.
McLean is a fascinating character who is trying to figure out her real self as she deals with the divorce of her parents while she's in her final year of high school. Because she is with her dad she has a unique situation because he has to move a couple times a year for his job. McLean is able to keep transforming herself with each move, but it is actually a way of hiding from figuring out who she really is/wants to be. She's also a really good/kind-hearted person overall; although, she is struggling with her anger at her mother of her cheating and causing the divorce. McLean does a lot of observing of others and includes those who might be outcasts - and that is a quality I think more people should have because as she finds out, you never know how great that person might turn out to be. I would be happy to have my students read McLean's story and want to emulate her character.
This story is very multilayered with themes about family, divorce, friendship, small towns, and the desire to figure out one's true self and direction in life. The multiple subplots at play are integrated so well into the overall storyline that they just feel like they have to be there to make a complete story. It's one of the things I liked most about Dessen's style of writing - it all flows together but creates a story that is much deeper because it is addressing so many aspects of life, not just the main plot point as some books do. My favorite subplot was related to McLean's inclusion of a supporting character who no one else has given a chance. I was easily able to get lost in the world Dessen created, and her style of writing didn't pull me out of the story at all, it just flowed easily.
WHAT HAPPENED TO GOODBYE is one I will be hand-selling in my classroom for sure. I will definitely be reading more Sarah Dessen books, and encouraging my students to as well!
I can't believe it took me this long to get to one, but this is the first Sarah Dessen book I've read! The reason I didn't start before now is because my students were devouring her books already, so I didn't feel like I needed to read them to promote them to my students. I can see why my girls love her books so much, and I should have started before now; however, it was the premise of this one that really made me decide to finally pick one up for myself.
Dessen's writing takes me back to high school - it's really great contemporary realistic fiction. It felt honest and real and like I could have been living in this town and been friends with these people. I liked this particular book especially because of the dad and his relationship with his daughter. It was interesting to see the side of a divorce where the daughter wants to stay with the dad. It was also intriguing because of the dad's job - as someone who comes in and rehabs failing restaurants (it reminded me of that show, Bar Rescue). I found it really interesting to see some of the behind-the-scenes of the restaurant business.
McLean is a fascinating character who is trying to figure out her real self as she deals with the divorce of her parents while she's in her final year of high school. Because she is with her dad she has a unique situation because he has to move a couple times a year for his job. McLean is able to keep transforming herself with each move, but it is actually a way of hiding from figuring out who she really is/wants to be. She's also a really good/kind-hearted person overall; although, she is struggling with her anger at her mother of her cheating and causing the divorce. McLean does a lot of observing of others and includes those who might be outcasts - and that is a quality I think more people should have because as she finds out, you never know how great that person might turn out to be. I would be happy to have my students read McLean's story and want to emulate her character.
This story is very multilayered with themes about family, divorce, friendship, small towns, and the desire to figure out one's true self and direction in life. The multiple subplots at play are integrated so well into the overall storyline that they just feel like they have to be there to make a complete story. It's one of the things I liked most about Dessen's style of writing - it all flows together but creates a story that is much deeper because it is addressing so many aspects of life, not just the main plot point as some books do. My favorite subplot was related to McLean's inclusion of a supporting character who no one else has given a chance. I was easily able to get lost in the world Dessen created, and her style of writing didn't pull me out of the story at all, it just flowed easily.
WHAT HAPPENED TO GOODBYE is one I will be hand-selling in my classroom for sure. I will definitely be reading more Sarah Dessen books, and encouraging my students to as well!
Review from www.bookflame.blogspot.com
After her parents divorce Mclean chose to live with her father who moves around revamping restaurants that are in the hole. Which also means Mclean gets to switch schools constantly and she takes these opportunities to create a brand new her at every school. Until she moves to Lakeview and accidentally uses her real name. And from that point on her journey starts in discovering who she really is, with the help of Dave her next door neighbor.
Sarah Dessen has alway been a hit and miss author for me. Besides Mcleans struggle to find herself not much else really happened in the book that made me just go "wow!" Even though I got to know plenty about Mclean, Dave and her parents I wish I had the chance to learn more about Dave's parents, Opal and Deb. I had a lot of unanswered questions in regards to them. Honestly when it comes down to it besides Mclean all the other characters although interesting were forgettable.
I did not enjoy this book as I hoped I would but I would still recommend it to teenagers since those are the years we try to "find" ourselves. I'm sure they will be able to relate to Mclean very well.
After her parents divorce Mclean chose to live with her father who moves around revamping restaurants that are in the hole. Which also means Mclean gets to switch schools constantly and she takes these opportunities to create a brand new her at every school. Until she moves to Lakeview and accidentally uses her real name. And from that point on her journey starts in discovering who she really is, with the help of Dave her next door neighbor.
Sarah Dessen has alway been a hit and miss author for me. Besides Mcleans struggle to find herself not much else really happened in the book that made me just go "wow!" Even though I got to know plenty about Mclean, Dave and her parents I wish I had the chance to learn more about Dave's parents, Opal and Deb. I had a lot of unanswered questions in regards to them. Honestly when it comes down to it besides Mclean all the other characters although interesting were forgettable.
I did not enjoy this book as I hoped I would but I would still recommend it to teenagers since those are the years we try to "find" ourselves. I'm sure they will be able to relate to Mclean very well.
A story about a girl’s journey to find herself. Not my most favorite book by this author, but the book certainly addresses a lot of painful topics, such as divorce and its effect on children, commitment issues and identity crisis. The plot could’ve been crafted better and characters explored more in-depth.