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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
This was the perfect book to read when finally getting out of my reading slump. It focused on Macy and her summer. Losing her dad, going on a break with her boyfriend, and making new friends all at once. Her life was pretty crazy but it also made me think about my life. Things aren't perfect. Nothing is ever perfect. You shouldn't try to be perfect for someone, you just need to be yourself because you only live once. Live it your own way. That is what this book had thought me. Sarah Dessen never disappoints.
I'm excited to pick up my next read. And I hope to finish all of Sarah Dessen's books. I think there are about two that I have not read yet. This book was amazing, and if I had the time I would have probably finished it in a day or two since it was really really hard to put down. I even sneaked in reading time during work because it was so great.
I'm excited to pick up my next read. And I hope to finish all of Sarah Dessen's books. I think there are about two that I have not read yet. This book was amazing, and if I had the time I would have probably finished it in a day or two since it was really really hard to put down. I even sneaked in reading time during work because it was so great.
Finally, I am no longer a Sarah Dessen virgin!
Now with that out of the way, let’s get to the story. Macy’s dad passed away a year and a half ago. Since then, things hadn’t been the same. Macy never truly grieved for her father. Instead, she focused on being the perfect daughter and dating the perfect boyfriend. Until her boyfriend goes to a camp for the summer and she’s left behind with a long summer working at the library where her co-workers hate her.
“It’s not that I believe everything happens for a reason,” she said. “It’s just that… I just think that some things are meant to be broken. Imperfect. Chaotic. It’s the universe’s way of providing contrast, you know? There have to be a few holes in the road. It’s how life is.”
The book started really slow for me. Since it’s my first Dessen book, I’m not sure if it’s her writing style, or just Macy as the narrator, but it was way to calm for me. I couldn’t sense any excitement in Macy most of the time, so as the day dragged on for her, the story dragged on for me. The only time there was even a hint of fun was when the people of Wish Catering showed up. Unlike Macy, who likes everything perfect and planned and organized, Wish was chaos. Things went wrong all the time for Wish Catering, and somehow Macy found herself getting sucked into this world, away from her routine and plans.
Suddenly I just missed my mother – who once stared at the ocean, who laughed huge belly laughs – so much it was like a pain, something throbbing.
The book focused mainly on Macy finally letting herself grief and getting over her father’s death enough to move on with her life. While the story was almost too normal for me, slowly but surely I saw Macy change little by little throughout the book. It just happened at a turtle’s pace for me. At page 300 I was ready for Macy to stand up for herself against her mother and just let out all her feelings, but she just couldn’t.
“You,” I said, “have this whole tall, dark stranger thing going on. Not to mention the tortured artist bit.”
Then there was Wes. I definitely didn’t “sa-woon” over him. Usually, when I read about a swoonworthy hero, I can imagine him perfectly in my head, but with Wes, I really couldn’t. He just didn’t have that alpha maleness. Also, half the time I can’t tell what he’s thinking. The only reason I know he liked Macy was probably from the blurb. He never really showed any outward emotions toward Macy. No wonder Macy was clueless. I couldn’t get that he liked her either. I liked that they were good friends first though, but I just wish it didn’t take them the entire book to get together. There were just not enough sigh worthy moments in the book, in my opinion.
Regardless, the story, while not my usual cup of tea, was still enjoyable. There was just something relaxing when reading about regular teenagers having regular problems. If only this book had wittier dialogue, and more emotional outburst, I’d have enjoyed it a lot more. But if contemporary YA is your thing, I’m sure you will love it. Will I read another Sarah Dessen book? Probably. But that’ll be a while from now.
Now with that out of the way, let’s get to the story. Macy’s dad passed away a year and a half ago. Since then, things hadn’t been the same. Macy never truly grieved for her father. Instead, she focused on being the perfect daughter and dating the perfect boyfriend. Until her boyfriend goes to a camp for the summer and she’s left behind with a long summer working at the library where her co-workers hate her.
“It’s not that I believe everything happens for a reason,” she said. “It’s just that… I just think that some things are meant to be broken. Imperfect. Chaotic. It’s the universe’s way of providing contrast, you know? There have to be a few holes in the road. It’s how life is.”
The book started really slow for me. Since it’s my first Dessen book, I’m not sure if it’s her writing style, or just Macy as the narrator, but it was way to calm for me. I couldn’t sense any excitement in Macy most of the time, so as the day dragged on for her, the story dragged on for me. The only time there was even a hint of fun was when the people of Wish Catering showed up. Unlike Macy, who likes everything perfect and planned and organized, Wish was chaos. Things went wrong all the time for Wish Catering, and somehow Macy found herself getting sucked into this world, away from her routine and plans.
Suddenly I just missed my mother – who once stared at the ocean, who laughed huge belly laughs – so much it was like a pain, something throbbing.
The book focused mainly on Macy finally letting herself grief and getting over her father’s death enough to move on with her life. While the story was almost too normal for me, slowly but surely I saw Macy change little by little throughout the book. It just happened at a turtle’s pace for me. At page 300 I was ready for Macy to stand up for herself against her mother and just let out all her feelings, but she just couldn’t.
“You,” I said, “have this whole tall, dark stranger thing going on. Not to mention the tortured artist bit.”
Then there was Wes. I definitely didn’t “sa-woon” over him. Usually, when I read about a swoonworthy hero, I can imagine him perfectly in my head, but with Wes, I really couldn’t. He just didn’t have that alpha maleness. Also, half the time I can’t tell what he’s thinking. The only reason I know he liked Macy was probably from the blurb. He never really showed any outward emotions toward Macy. No wonder Macy was clueless. I couldn’t get that he liked her either. I liked that they were good friends first though, but I just wish it didn’t take them the entire book to get together. There were just not enough sigh worthy moments in the book, in my opinion.
Regardless, the story, while not my usual cup of tea, was still enjoyable. There was just something relaxing when reading about regular teenagers having regular problems. If only this book had wittier dialogue, and more emotional outburst, I’d have enjoyed it a lot more. But if contemporary YA is your thing, I’m sure you will love it. Will I read another Sarah Dessen book? Probably. But that’ll be a while from now.
A very touching and meaningful book.
Check out my review:
https://travellingthroughwords.wordpress.com/2016/02/08/book-review-the-truth-about-forever-by-sarah-dessen/
Check out my review:
https://travellingthroughwords.wordpress.com/2016/02/08/book-review-the-truth-about-forever-by-sarah-dessen/
It's hard to capture the amazing feeling I got from reading this book. It was just pure, complete, total love! I hated to see it end but I didn't want to put it down. There was something about every single character that you just ended up connecting with and finding endearing. Macy was so real trying to be in control of everything after loosing one of the most important things in her life and not having the chance to do anything about it. She felt that being perfect would keep her world together and she did everything in her power to do just that. She needed order and structure and that was how she lived until she met the best people to come into her life. The 5 people that worked at Wish catering were the exact opposite of the neat structured monotony that she had been living in over the last year and a half and it was just what she needed.
And what can I say about Wes...WES! Le sigh. The boy was hot and perfect and the perfect companion for Macy. The build of their friendship may have been the absolute best part of the book. They were real and honest with each other and in the process vulnerable without even realizing it. Wes is the kind of boy you dream of. Perfect with his imperfections. I really hate to see him go.
Seriously out of all the books I read this year, this was one of the most well told stories. I would mind reading it again and again and see once again how everybody grows and changes. And I would absolutely recommend it to others for sure. Highly great read!
And what can I say about Wes...WES! Le sigh. The boy was hot and perfect and the perfect companion for Macy. The build of their friendship may have been the absolute best part of the book. They were real and honest with each other and in the process vulnerable without even realizing it. Wes is the kind of boy you dream of. Perfect with his imperfections. I really hate to see him go.
Seriously out of all the books I read this year, this was one of the most well told stories. I would mind reading it again and again and see once again how everybody grows and changes. And I would absolutely recommend it to others for sure. Highly great read!
medium-paced
emotional
medium-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
4.5 stars.
(Here are some trigger warnings. Will mention a parents death in this review, but nothing in depth).
I asked for a light, easy, breezy summer romance. I got much more than that.
Macy has a plan for summer, which mainly involves studying hard for her SATs, picking up her boyfriend's library job whilst he's away at Brain Camp, and staying fine-just-fine - an art she has perfected ever since her dad died. But this perfect plan begins to crumble after Macy's boyfriend decides that their relationship should take a break whilst he is away. However, as much as Macy might resist this unexpected change in her life, she realises it is something she has needed for a long time. So begins her summer of new friendships, new love, and newfound freedom. No longer holding back from being truly alive, this could find be Macy's new forever, if only she could trust herself.
Long story short, this novel was amazing, and just what I needed right now - even if that was something I didn't quite expect when I first picked up The Truth About Forever.
I'd first like to praise Sarah Dessen's incredible characters. I loved every single one, and was seriously impressed by the amount of in-depth and meaningful characterisation that was packed into this novel. Macy herself was a wonderful lead who I could empathise with easily, and who I was pleased to embody for the narrative. Her supporting cast were also such a joy to read and I loved how much they all contributed to her overall character arc and the plot as a whole.
Speaking of plot, this is where The Truth About Forever surprised me the most. I expected this novel to be pretty heavy on the romance based on its paratexts, but actually, Dessen built her story around much heavier subject matter. Most notably: grief. The aftermath of Macy's father's death plays a huge role in this story, but I thought Dessen treated this topic with admirable sensitivity and time. The messages and themes never felt forced, and yet they felt ever-present and always relevant. Again, this is a credit to Dessen's characterisation, as their grief shaped so much of their individual personalities. It also influenced the plot, which would have been slightly aimless without this essential focus.
Romance, however, was not completely absent from this novel - another thing I am glad about, since I would have been very sad to see no sign of Dessen's fabulous romance writing. Macy's relationship with Wes is a slow-burn, for sure, but I loved reading it build from strangers, to friends and onwards with such effortless elegance. I think it's really difficult to take a relationship from the ground up and make it convincing and interesting throughout, but I was truly invested in Macy and Wes and cared about them as a pair, which is a huge testament to Dessen's writing. It was also a pleasure to read a young pair whose relationship was founded on honesty and support and kindness. I really got the sense that they were good for each other, and so I was rooting for them the whole way. Again, the relationship tied into Macy's character development too, which was a massive bonus.
I have knocked off half a star for a couple of small complaints. Firstly, I would have liked a slightly quicker pace for the first quarter or so - it really picked up after this, but the opening could have done with a little push. Secondly, this novel had a tendency to be a tad repetitive at times. I mean this in a detail sense - there were literal phrases, observations, comments, which were repeated a noticeable amount without seeming to have much relevance. I think these could have been easily picked out with some more careful micro-editing. But hey, that didn't have much influence on my overall reading experience.
This book took me by surprise with how much it managed to engross me. I really did have the best time with it, and I can't wait to read more Sarah Dessen novels now that she has officially earned a stamp of approval.
(Here are some trigger warnings. Will mention a parents death in this review, but nothing in depth).
I asked for a light, easy, breezy summer romance. I got much more than that.
Macy has a plan for summer, which mainly involves studying hard for her SATs, picking up her boyfriend's library job whilst he's away at Brain Camp, and staying fine-just-fine - an art she has perfected ever since her dad died. But this perfect plan begins to crumble after Macy's boyfriend decides that their relationship should take a break whilst he is away. However, as much as Macy might resist this unexpected change in her life, she realises it is something she has needed for a long time. So begins her summer of new friendships, new love, and newfound freedom. No longer holding back from being truly alive, this could find be Macy's new forever, if only she could trust herself.
Long story short, this novel was amazing, and just what I needed right now - even if that was something I didn't quite expect when I first picked up The Truth About Forever.
I'd first like to praise Sarah Dessen's incredible characters. I loved every single one, and was seriously impressed by the amount of in-depth and meaningful characterisation that was packed into this novel. Macy herself was a wonderful lead who I could empathise with easily, and who I was pleased to embody for the narrative. Her supporting cast were also such a joy to read and I loved how much they all contributed to her overall character arc and the plot as a whole.
Speaking of plot, this is where The Truth About Forever surprised me the most. I expected this novel to be pretty heavy on the romance based on its paratexts, but actually, Dessen built her story around much heavier subject matter. Most notably: grief. The aftermath of Macy's father's death plays a huge role in this story, but I thought Dessen treated this topic with admirable sensitivity and time. The messages and themes never felt forced, and yet they felt ever-present and always relevant. Again, this is a credit to Dessen's characterisation, as their grief shaped so much of their individual personalities. It also influenced the plot, which would have been slightly aimless without this essential focus.
Romance, however, was not completely absent from this novel - another thing I am glad about, since I would have been very sad to see no sign of Dessen's fabulous romance writing. Macy's relationship with Wes is a slow-burn, for sure, but I loved reading it build from strangers, to friends and onwards with such effortless elegance. I think it's really difficult to take a relationship from the ground up and make it convincing and interesting throughout, but I was truly invested in Macy and Wes and cared about them as a pair, which is a huge testament to Dessen's writing. It was also a pleasure to read a young pair whose relationship was founded on honesty and support and kindness. I really got the sense that they were good for each other, and so I was rooting for them the whole way. Again, the relationship tied into Macy's character development too, which was a massive bonus.
I have knocked off half a star for a couple of small complaints. Firstly, I would have liked a slightly quicker pace for the first quarter or so - it really picked up after this, but the opening could have done with a little push. Secondly, this novel had a tendency to be a tad repetitive at times. I mean this in a detail sense - there were literal phrases, observations, comments, which were repeated a noticeable amount without seeming to have much relevance. I think these could have been easily picked out with some more careful micro-editing. But hey, that didn't have much influence on my overall reading experience.
This book took me by surprise with how much it managed to engross me. I really did have the best time with it, and I can't wait to read more Sarah Dessen novels now that she has officially earned a stamp of approval.
Maybe 5 stars is a bit generous, I don't know, but what I do know is that in my eyes this is a fantastic book. I want to write a review that's going to do some justice to how I felt when reading this, so I'll try my best. For me, what makes a book good is if I feel I can really connect to the main character/s. This is an instance where I felt alive and like I actually was the character when I was reading. The feelings of Macy just seem so real and genuine. I don't like books where I can close it after finish reading and honestly say that I don't think the character had changed or developed in some way. This book definitely did not have that problem. Macy's character grew so much, it wasn't an easy ride yet it was a real life one. Nothing in this life that's worth having comes easy. This just demonstrates that. Striving to be perfect, or not perfect, is a popular aspiration, one that many people hold. The goals of this girl were genuine and realistic. I also thoroughly connected through the relationship with her mother. I felt such empathy to Macy and was constantly left wanting to know more. That feeling of reaching out to someone, and being their rock, holding them strong, is such a common feeling. Especially for people dealing with grief. People deal with every situation different to others. I think it was great how this relationship developed and I was definitely pleased with the ending.
So if I don't dedicate a whole paragraph to Wes, this review would feel incomplete. I love him. I want a guy like him. I want to be with him. His and Macy's relationship was such an important thing during this book. I hate it in books where the female is described as being dependant on a guy, as if they're incapable of being alone and doing things for themselves. This was definitely not the case in this book and is just another point as to why I loved it so much. The feelings are described in such a way that you feel sensitive towards Macy. Although it's obvious to the reader, it's clearly not to her. You know how she feels however she doesn't quite know it herself. This is important as its how she changes after meeting her new friends. She can open herself up more and tell the truth. Admitting pain and feelings for other people is hard, because we're constantly scared of rejection. It's easy to sit back and say 'why doesn't she just get it over with and tell him.' however we all know that that's so much easier said than done.
The ending paragraph was perfect. I re-read it several times, just to capture that feeling and try to make it last. I LOVED THIS BOOK
Dessen really hit the target with this book and I know that it'll be one I'll remember for a long time.
So if I don't dedicate a whole paragraph to Wes, this review would feel incomplete. I love him. I want a guy like him. I want to be with him. His and Macy's relationship was such an important thing during this book. I hate it in books where the female is described as being dependant on a guy, as if they're incapable of being alone and doing things for themselves. This was definitely not the case in this book and is just another point as to why I loved it so much. The feelings are described in such a way that you feel sensitive towards Macy. Although it's obvious to the reader, it's clearly not to her. You know how she feels however she doesn't quite know it herself. This is important as its how she changes after meeting her new friends. She can open herself up more and tell the truth. Admitting pain and feelings for other people is hard, because we're constantly scared of rejection. It's easy to sit back and say 'why doesn't she just get it over with and tell him.' however we all know that that's so much easier said than done.
The ending paragraph was perfect. I re-read it several times, just to capture that feeling and try to make it last. I LOVED THIS BOOK
Dessen really hit the target with this book and I know that it'll be one I'll remember for a long time.
I'm surprised to like this book as much as I do. Yeah, it was a bit predictable in places, but it wasn't bad predictable. And I liked Wes and his art and Truth. It all fit well.
In my mind, all I could think when Jason was mentioned was Jason = Sheldon Cooper from the Big Bang Theory, except wearing polos.
In my mind, all I could think when Jason was mentioned was Jason = Sheldon Cooper from the Big Bang Theory, except wearing polos.
Another great read from Dessen. She always manages to make her characters and the events they are facing so relatable. I love Wes - he is a great character. I particularly like the scene when Macy quits the library. All the characters have such a depth to them that makes them really appealing. The sneaky reference to the Last Chance cafe was cute too.