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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
i was slightly hesitant going into this book due to the intense opinions of some of the reviews, but sarah dessen is the author of multiple romances i have thoroughly enjoyed and this one was no different. i loved the background of a family business and a wedding business nonetheless, i thought it was well thought out and actually quite interesting. contrary to other reviews, i absolutely loved ambrose and louna. i felt their character development was evident by the end of the book. i would say there was one tiny point of the book in which i wished things had gone slightly differently, but dessen did not disappoint me. the butterflies in my stomach speak for themselves when i say this was a great read that i would recommend to those looking for a lighthearted romance, lots of witty banter, dating bets, and an adorable love story
I love Sarah Dessen and her stories. But this book. I couldn’t finish it but I basically get the gist of the plot because I invested 150 pages into it. There’s just no plot and unredeemable characters.
I liked parts of this.
Unfortunately, those parts didn’t include the love story or the love interest or the sub-love story or the setup to the love story or the obstacles to the love story or anything related to the love story (otherwise known as the “plot”) top to bottom.
Can’t win em all.
I do not care for Ambrose, the love interest of this little shindig. He is an attempt at that trope of the Goofy Charming Flirt (who always corresponds to the Uptight Teenage Female With Too Much Responsibility Who Does Not Know How To Let Loose And Also Does Not Know She’s Beautiful), except it...doesn’t work? He doesn’t feel goofy or fun or charming. Just immature and annoying. Am I getting old? No, I’ve always been like this. I can soothe myself with the thought that I was born grumpy and cynical.
I also don’t like cheating as a plotline!! Sorry!! I don’t think love stories are fun when the obstacle preventing the two main characters from getting their love on is another person’s emotions and well-being!!! What is fun about that!!! I don’t understand!!!
Further, I do not like anything about how this book was handled. Sarah Dessen books often contain a Social Issue of some sort - teen pregnancy, drug addiction, body image - and this one is no exception. Except the social issue is, uh, gun violence? Specifically school shootings?
The thing about social issues in Sarah Dessen books is that they’re mostly a thing that is causing Problems for the main character, and then when the main character Comes Of Age they also overcome that social issue. But
Basically, the characters’ problems in this book feel way more dramatic and real than in most contemporaries, but they’re overcome in the same way, in the same two hundred page span. It feels rushed.
Essentially, the plot to this is “here is a bunch of terrible things and everyone is suffering and now 200 pages have passed so they’re in love and completely fine thanks for reading!!!!”
I am not a fan of that.
Bottom line: This did not feel like a Sarah Dessen book. Which wouldn’t even necessarily a bad thing, except in this case it, uh, was.
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pre-review
Can't win em all.
Review to come / 2 stars
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currently-reading updates
This book is the only thing standing between me and the feat of having read every Sarah Dessen book in 2018.
Except Dreamland. But that doesn't count.
Let's do this.
Unfortunately, those parts didn’t include the love story or the love interest or the sub-love story or the setup to the love story or the obstacles to the love story or anything related to the love story (otherwise known as the “plot”) top to bottom.
Can’t win em all.
I do not care for Ambrose, the love interest of this little shindig. He is an attempt at that trope of the Goofy Charming Flirt (who always corresponds to the Uptight Teenage Female With Too Much Responsibility Who Does Not Know How To Let Loose And Also Does Not Know She’s Beautiful), except it...doesn’t work? He doesn’t feel goofy or fun or charming. Just immature and annoying. Am I getting old? No, I’ve always been like this. I can soothe myself with the thought that I was born grumpy and cynical.
I also don’t like cheating as a plotline!! Sorry!! I don’t think love stories are fun when the obstacle preventing the two main characters from getting their love on is another person’s emotions and well-being!!! What is fun about that!!! I don’t understand!!!
Further, I do not like anything about how this book was handled. Sarah Dessen books often contain a Social Issue of some sort - teen pregnancy, drug addiction, body image - and this one is no exception. Except the social issue is, uh, gun violence? Specifically school shootings?
The thing about social issues in Sarah Dessen books is that they’re mostly a thing that is causing Problems for the main character, and then when the main character Comes Of Age they also overcome that social issue. But
Spoiler
when that social issue is that the main character’s boyfriend was killed in a school shooting…...it feels weird for that to be overcome in two hundred pages.Basically, the characters’ problems in this book feel way more dramatic and real than in most contemporaries, but they’re overcome in the same way, in the same two hundred page span. It feels rushed.
Essentially, the plot to this is “here is a bunch of terrible things and everyone is suffering and now 200 pages have passed so they’re in love and completely fine thanks for reading!!!!”
I am not a fan of that.
Bottom line: This did not feel like a Sarah Dessen book. Which wouldn’t even necessarily a bad thing, except in this case it, uh, was.
---------
pre-review
Can't win em all.
Review to come / 2 stars
---------
currently-reading updates
This book is the only thing standing between me and the feat of having read every Sarah Dessen book in 2018.
Except Dreamland. But that doesn't count.
Let's do this.
Typical lightweight romance. I enjoyed it but I think Sarah Dessen has better books.
I LOVED this book. Again, Sarah Dessen did not disappoint me with her new novel. Louna's character is so real; I could feel her pain seeping out of the pages. Along with that, Ambrose made me laugh out loud in some places. He had a charm that none of love interests before him possessed, except maybe Dexter from THIS LULLABY. Before I read ONCE AND FOR ALL, I thought it was just going to be about weddings and love; but there was another storyline added in that I thought was a really nice touch, as it has sadly become a norm in today's society. I liked that Dessen wrote about it but not about it at the same time (if you don't understand what I mean, just go read the book and you'll understand). I fell in love with Sarah Dessen's stories all over again while reading this one, and now I can't wait for the next!
Sarah Dessen was the first YA author that I ever read and her book Lock and Key will always hold a special place in my heart. Her other novel The Truth About Forever will always be my favourite by her as well, and as much as I was hoping to love this book, it did fall flat in some aspects for me. Anyone picking up a Sarah Dessen novel can expect a couple of things: swoon-worthy male leads, slow build up of the relationship, and a greater depth to the story than what would be expected, usually through evolving family dynamics, difficult situations, or previous loss.
While this book delivers on the a fun male lead, he does take some getting used to and doesn't always start off on the best foot with the reader. The relationship definitely built very slowly, almost to the point that I was wondering if there would even be a romantic relationship. The story is told between the present and flashback chapters, which isn't too confusing for the most part, but it does lend the sense that the protagonist isn't really living in the present. Although this provide good context and added depth to Louna's situation and her issues, it does detract from the relationships that are trying to be established throughout the story. So while I did enjoy Dessen tackling a very relevant issue and the loss that Louna has to overcome, I believe that she just couldn't find the perfect balance between the present and the past.
I really didn't enjoy The Moon and More but Dessen seemed to re-establish some of her footing in Saint Anything, and this novel is further evidence that she is getting back to her writing peak of The Truth About Forever but just isn't quite there yet.
While this book delivers on the a fun male lead, he does take some getting used to and doesn't always start off on the best foot with the reader. The relationship definitely built very slowly, almost to the point that I was wondering if there would even be a romantic relationship. The story is told between the present and flashback chapters, which isn't too confusing for the most part, but it does lend the sense that the protagonist isn't really living in the present. Although this provide good context and added depth to Louna's situation and her issues, it does detract from the relationships that are trying to be established throughout the story. So while I did enjoy Dessen tackling a very relevant issue and the loss that Louna has to overcome, I believe that she just couldn't find the perfect balance between the present and the past.
I really didn't enjoy The Moon and More but Dessen seemed to re-establish some of her footing in Saint Anything, and this novel is further evidence that she is getting back to her writing peak of The Truth About Forever but just isn't quite there yet.
Definitely not my favorite Sarah Dessen book. I, for some reason, did not like Ambrose's character at all. I knew no I was supposed to, but he just seemed boring and one demenional to me. I loved Ethan though, and I loved that characters from her other book, Along For The Ride, made cameos, especially since that is my favorite book by her. Even though this wasn't my favorite book by her, I still love her books, and look forward to read anything she writes.
Another one of Sarah Dessen's novels that I read within a day. As a hopeless romantic I loved seeing a more pessimistic side to love. I also loved how Dessen brought forth the problem of gun violence within schools. It was mentioned just enough to get you thinking about the topic and how it affects people on a deeper level. I also liked how Dessen always added elements from her other novels, which brings back memories. Overall, I really enjoyed the book and wish I didn't finish it so quickly.
Very sweet feel-good story about letting down your walls and learning to hope again. Got me out of my reading slump!