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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
My expectations are always so high whenever a new Dessen book is coming out…it’s honestly not very fair to her. Except, she always delivers! Louna is such a great main character and gives off so many Remy vibes (which I LOVE). Honestly, they almost could have been the same character except I think Remy comes off as slightly more cynical. This only means that Louna is a fun combination of mild cynicism and general impatience. The secondary characters were awesome as well. I loved Louna’s mom and William–they had such a fun dynamic and often served as comic relief. Also serving as comic relief (in my opinion) is coffee shop guy, so quick shout out to him. I liked Jilly quite a bit as well, though I felt like I was missing that super strong female friendship that is often in Dessen’s books. Jilly and Louna were definitely great friends, but Jilly just wasn’t as present as other best friends have been. That being said, Jilly’s siblings were hilarious and I hope we see more of her little brother in another book.
Ambrose and Ethan…I thought they were great characters in different ways. I liked how we got to meet Ethan piece by piece in flashbacks and that his relationship with Louna didn’t feel forced or fake. I think that’s hard to do since they spent such a short amount of time together, but I was buying the whole thing. Also, thank Dessen for featuring my favorite location that she has ever created–the Pie Laundromat. So happy to see that place again. Ambrose was a completely different character from Ethan for sure and it was interesting to see Louna falling for both guys. I’ve seen some reviewers say they really didn’t care for Ambrose’s personality. I can honestly see why some readers may dislike him, but he’s so different from all of Dessen’s other romantic leads that I found him really interesting. And also the fact that he was so different from Ethan gave Louna more depth as a character, in my opinion.
As is common in Dessen’s books, there wasn’t really a plot since the book is more focused on the characters. That being said, I loved all of the different weddings that we got to see. I live just a couple of blocks from a really popular, local wedding spot and seeing so many brides and weddings day after day really just made me start to think how un-special weddings are. Like, they literally happen every day in the summer! I just found myself pondering the interesting paradox of this being one of the most important days of the bride’s life while for me it’s “just another wedding by my house”. Anyway, that’s a long explanation to say that I’m sure Natalie and William feel the same way to some extent and it’s interesting to view weddings from that perspective.
Overall, I loved this book just as much as all the others. As long as Sarah Dessen writes, I will continue to read and purchase her books. Honestly, she’s the only author I’ll pre-order for. The ONLY issue I have is that there’s a bonus chapter that exists, but it’s only available in the special B&N edition. For an Amazon addict like me, that’s no good. I’d already pre-ordered the book on Amazon when I found out bonus material even existed! Whatever. I confess to going to B&N just to sit on their floor and read the bonus chapter. I don’t even feel bad about it. But anyway, if you like Dessen, READ THIS BOOK. And if you don’t like Dessen or have never read anything she’s written, READ THIS BOOK.
Overall Rating: 5
Language: Moderate
Violence: Moderate
Smoking/Drinking: Moderate
Sexual Content: Moderate
Ambrose and Ethan…I thought they were great characters in different ways. I liked how we got to meet Ethan piece by piece in flashbacks and that his relationship with Louna didn’t feel forced or fake. I think that’s hard to do since they spent such a short amount of time together, but I was buying the whole thing. Also, thank Dessen for featuring my favorite location that she has ever created–the Pie Laundromat. So happy to see that place again. Ambrose was a completely different character from Ethan for sure and it was interesting to see Louna falling for both guys. I’ve seen some reviewers say they really didn’t care for Ambrose’s personality. I can honestly see why some readers may dislike him, but he’s so different from all of Dessen’s other romantic leads that I found him really interesting. And also the fact that he was so different from Ethan gave Louna more depth as a character, in my opinion.
As is common in Dessen’s books, there wasn’t really a plot since the book is more focused on the characters. That being said, I loved all of the different weddings that we got to see. I live just a couple of blocks from a really popular, local wedding spot and seeing so many brides and weddings day after day really just made me start to think how un-special weddings are. Like, they literally happen every day in the summer! I just found myself pondering the interesting paradox of this being one of the most important days of the bride’s life while for me it’s “just another wedding by my house”. Anyway, that’s a long explanation to say that I’m sure Natalie and William feel the same way to some extent and it’s interesting to view weddings from that perspective.
Overall, I loved this book just as much as all the others. As long as Sarah Dessen writes, I will continue to read and purchase her books. Honestly, she’s the only author I’ll pre-order for. The ONLY issue I have is that there’s a bonus chapter that exists, but it’s only available in the special B&N edition. For an Amazon addict like me, that’s no good. I’d already pre-ordered the book on Amazon when I found out bonus material even existed! Whatever. I confess to going to B&N just to sit on their floor and read the bonus chapter. I don’t even feel bad about it. But anyway, if you like Dessen, READ THIS BOOK. And if you don’t like Dessen or have never read anything she’s written, READ THIS BOOK.
Overall Rating: 5
Language: Moderate
Violence: Moderate
Smoking/Drinking: Moderate
Sexual Content: Moderate
I didn't have a headache before I started reading this book but now I do after finishing it. Coincidence? I think not.
Once and for All is about a girl named Louna who works with her mother, a famous wedding planner. Louna has been to many different kinds of weddings but when it comes to her own romantic life, she doesn't really buy it. When she meets wacky serial dater Ambrose, she can't stand him even when he is clearly interested in her. After he starts to work with her, they make a bet: Ambrose will commit to one girl while Louna dates around and the winner of the bet gets to pick a date for the other.
Louna is boring, plain and simple. She is dealing with a loss of her last boyfriend but her grief only matters sometimes when it's important for the plot. It's grief-lite, based on a relationship that was already so fake and fairytale based. Louna has a best friend named Jilly (why are these names so wild?) who I thought could maybe have an important relationship with Louna but nah. She of course gets shoved aside and she was always okay with being a babysitter to her younger siblings even to the end, instead of ever standing up for herself.
The love interest, Ambrose? No. He's so annoying the ENTIRE time and instead of anyone in this book having character development, he just stays annoying. I really can't express how obnoxious he was the whole time but trust me, he really was. His personality starts and stops at him being ~quirky~ and how he doesn't like to commit and likes going out with multiple girls at once. Also chemistry between Louna and Ambrose? Never heard of her.
Never do we even get any closure, unless you count her getting a new boyfriend closure for her grief-lite. There isn't really any good family bonding either. I don't normally call books sappy that often either but if the shoe fits. Just an all around miss for me.
Once and for All is about a girl named Louna who works with her mother, a famous wedding planner. Louna has been to many different kinds of weddings but when it comes to her own romantic life, she doesn't really buy it. When she meets wacky serial dater Ambrose, she can't stand him even when he is clearly interested in her. After he starts to work with her, they make a bet: Ambrose will commit to one girl while Louna dates around and the winner of the bet gets to pick a date for the other.
“It's about the courage to go for what you want, not just what you think you need. Sometimes we don't even know what that is.”Either I've outgrown Sarah Dessen or this book is just a super big dud. It's been several years since I've read any of her books though so I'm not sure what to believe. This book sets itself up as a light and cute romance with the backdrop of wedding planning and while it has its ups and downs, it just falls short in everything for me. There is no plot, and the main romance is just so bad, and then a flashback romance is even worse. There is a family aspect and even a best friend but also just a missed opportunity to make this book into something better. All while being super dramatic and slightly uncomfortable.
Louna is boring, plain and simple. She is dealing with a loss of her last boyfriend but her grief only matters sometimes when it's important for the plot. It's grief-lite, based on a relationship that was already so fake and fairytale based.
Spoiler
She meets a random boy and they literally have sex on the beach a few hours after meeting and then when he is leaving, they both say they love each other. I'm sorry, WHAT. I don't think you could possibly get any more insta-love than this. They have a texting long distance relationship for a bit after that until he dies and she's so heartbroken she can't even get rid of the dress and shoes she wore when they had their oh so romantic and epic first meeting.The love interest, Ambrose? No. He's so annoying the ENTIRE time and instead of anyone in this book having character development, he just stays annoying. I really can't express how obnoxious he was the whole time but trust me, he really was. His personality starts and stops at him being ~quirky~ and how he doesn't like to commit and likes going out with multiple girls at once.
Spoiler
The ending where he tells Louna that he loves her and then it takes her until she thinks he died for her to realize that hey, she loves him too and they kiss, WHILE she was dating someone else that was even at her house at that moment. That is a super dick move to the guy and showing us that she really didn't like that guy much in the first place just makes her even more of an asshole. But tru luvvv, or something I guess.Never do we even get any closure, unless you count her getting a new boyfriend closure for her grief-lite. There isn't really any good family bonding either. I don't normally call books sappy that often either but if the shoe fits. Just an all around miss for me.
3.5/4.0 out of 5.0 stars
I super stoked to find a contemporary romance that was centered around wedding planning! I adore weddings and themes and dresses and stationary! Furthermore, I adore this book cover.
The main character Louna was very relatable. I'm not a party animal or a "dater," so I understood where she was coming from. Ambrose went from being my LEAST favorite character to one of my favorites (It may be, because of his sidekick dog, Ira). He just made me laugh. I adore characters who make me laugh.
" Okay, okay, " Ambrose, asuming this was directed at him, said quickly." Fine. I did eat one of these doughnuts I just got us without offering them around first. "
My mom and William were still studying him, much like hungry cats in cartoons eye plump birds whistling on a swing.
" Fine, it was two, " Ambrose added." I'm sorry! I was hungry. Also-"
"This is not about doughnuts," my mother told him.
I laughed out loud during this part.
However, I didn't like reading Louna's back story. It was too insta -lovey and moved way to fast! It didn't seem believable. Maybe it was better, so we didn't get attached to the former relationship? Also, it was kind of depressing. It wasn't what I wanted from this book.
The reason I gave this one a three point five or four out of five stars is the ending. The ending was super sweet, super cute, and was wrapped in a nice bow.
I super stoked to find a contemporary romance that was centered around wedding planning! I adore weddings and themes and dresses and stationary! Furthermore, I adore this book cover.
The main character Louna was very relatable. I'm not a party animal or a "dater," so I understood where she was coming from. Ambrose went from being my LEAST favorite character to one of my favorites (It may be, because of his sidekick dog, Ira). He just made me laugh. I adore characters who make me laugh.
" Okay, okay, " Ambrose, asuming this was directed at him, said quickly." Fine. I did eat one of these doughnuts I just got us without offering them around first. "
My mom and William were still studying him, much like hungry cats in cartoons eye plump birds whistling on a swing.
" Fine, it was two, " Ambrose added." I'm sorry! I was hungry. Also-"
"This is not about doughnuts," my mother told him.
I laughed out loud during this part.
However, I didn't like reading Louna's back story. It was too insta -lovey and moved way to fast! It didn't seem believable. Maybe it was better, so we didn't get attached to the former relationship? Also, it was kind of depressing. It wasn't what I wanted from this book.
The reason I gave this one a three point five or four out of five stars is the ending. The ending was super sweet, super cute, and was wrapped in a nice bow.
i loved this!!! such an amazing end to my 2017 reading year. this was my first sarah dessen book, and it certainly won't be my last. it was so cute and well-written, and i loved the pacing. you don't find slow burns like this anymore in ya contemporary, which is why this was such a pleasant surprise. definitely a new favorite!!
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
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
I've read every one of Sarah Dessen's books and probably will continue doing so for however long Dessen decides to keep churning them out. It's something of a tradition for me, at this point, though there are so many of her more recent novels that blur together in my mind.
Once and for All was a decent novel, but so much of it felt . . . recycled. Including the main character, whose name I couldn't remember just now, despite finishing the book yesterday. The continuity of Dessen's world used to be charming, but now, it almost feels like we've spent too long hovering around Colby, brushing shoulders with characters from past books. And as much as I empathize with Dessen's brand of MC, their faces, names, and backstories are all different shades of the same color (literally). I want to say that I wish Dessen brought some diversity to her work, but I honestly don't trust that she could do it well. Dessen writes what she knows -- and what she knows is (upper)middle-class white women.
Still, Dessen's writing style is familiar and comforting. Every book brings me back to that initial love-at-first-sentence feeling I experienced during [b:This Lullaby|22205|This Lullaby|Sarah Dessen|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1397779294s/22205.jpg|132402]. Ambrose, our inevitable LI, had a lot of Dexter in him. And just like in every other book she writes, there are those lovely little descriptions that make you think Huh, that was clever.
I hope Dessen will branch out with her next novel. I'd love to see her move away from high school love stories and into something New Adult, or even a standard adult, meet-cute style romance. I think it's absolutely necessary if she has any chance of maintaining her old audience . . . and establishing a new one.
Once and for All was a decent novel, but so much of it felt . . . recycled. Including the main character, whose name I couldn't remember just now, despite finishing the book yesterday. The continuity of Dessen's world used to be charming, but now, it almost feels like we've spent too long hovering around Colby, brushing shoulders with characters from past books. And as much as I empathize with Dessen's brand of MC, their faces, names, and backstories are all different shades of the same color (literally). I want to say that I wish Dessen brought some diversity to her work, but I honestly don't trust that she could do it well. Dessen writes what she knows -- and what she knows is (upper)middle-class white women.
Still, Dessen's writing style is familiar and comforting. Every book brings me back to that initial love-at-first-sentence feeling I experienced during [b:This Lullaby|22205|This Lullaby|Sarah Dessen|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1397779294s/22205.jpg|132402]. Ambrose, our inevitable LI, had a lot of Dexter in him. And just like in every other book she writes, there are those lovely little descriptions that make you think Huh, that was clever.
I hope Dessen will branch out with her next novel. I'd love to see her move away from high school love stories and into something New Adult, or even a standard adult, meet-cute style romance. I think it's absolutely necessary if she has any chance of maintaining her old audience . . . and establishing a new one.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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
lighthearted
medium-paced
When I saw this at Barnes & Noble, I bought it right away. I didn't look at the reviews, summary, excerpt, price, or whatever. I just saw "SARAH DESSEN" and I bought it, went home, and read it right away.
I. HAVE. NO. REGRETS. This book was awesome, as expected of Sarah Dessen, whom I absolutely LOVE.
I. HAVE. NO. REGRETS. This book was awesome, as expected of Sarah Dessen, whom I absolutely LOVE.