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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
That was super cute and sad and just everything I like in a book. Not quite a five star read, but up there.
Not one of my favorite Sarah Dessen books--the will they/won't they thread got a little frayed for me by the end, and maybe I'm just burnt out on contemporary because as soon as the weather turns warmer I read a thousand of them. All of that said, a reliably familiar plot and a contemporary romance over the summer are comforting and nice. But my favorite part of this book is honestly the cover.
Spoiler
and maybe this is just a me thing but was anyone else terrified Ethan was going to be the school shooter and not the victim because of the unnecessary suspense about that plot point?
Not a bad book, easy to read and loved the back story into her ex boyfriend. Just your typical romance fiction book.
More like 3.5...it took me a little while to get into this book because I felt like Louna didn't have much of a unique personality to her - she just kind of observed the other characters (who were mostly great). Overall though, I ended up liking this story.
Once and For All is a true Sarah Dessen romance. This coming of age story is an emotional story that will have you believing in second-chances before the last page. Ambrose's eternal optimism is a stark contrast to Louna's heartbroken cynicism and exactly what she needed. I don't want to give any spoilers, so I will simply state that Once and For All is sadly relevant to today's society, but hopefully it won't always be that way.
Sarah Dessen has long been one of my go-to authors. Once and For All is a good read, but it wasn't my favorite of hers. This book is just as emotional as her others, but there isn't quite as much romance throughout. The lack of undeniable romance throughout is the only thing that kept this from being a 5-Star read for me. If you enjoy heartfelt, clean, coming of age romances, then I recommend Once and For All as one of your next reads.
Sarah Dessen has long been one of my go-to authors. Once and For All is a good read, but it wasn't my favorite of hers. This book is just as emotional as her others, but there isn't quite as much romance throughout. The lack of undeniable romance throughout is the only thing that kept this from being a 5-Star read for me. If you enjoy heartfelt, clean, coming of age romances, then I recommend Once and For All as one of your next reads.
Always have been and always will be a fan of Sarah Dessen books. <3
I just want to spend all day every day reading Sarah Dessen books
4.5
4.5
Sarah Dessen has a niche. Yes, she writes YA, but she specializes in female narrators struggling with emotional honesty. Once and for All is no different. Louna is a jaded 18-year-old working for her mother's wedding planning business and trying to keep distracted from her own sadness. Self-imposed isolation and denial make her journey a lonely one.
Most Dessen fans will recognize this plot. Many of her books share it in varying forms. I've read all 13. Even knowing what to expect with every one of her stories (young woman is trepidatious about love, worsening when she meets some quirky/dangerous/funny/persistent/adorable/charming man, pushing him and everyone away because of SOME. BIG. EVENT. IN. HER. PAST., until she realizes that was then and this is now, and gives him a chance, falling in love, and finally learning to be happy again.
Yet, I continue to read them. Because Sarah Dessen is a lovely writer. Yes, she's gotten into the bad habit of "calling back" to past characters or businesses in her new books (something I find painfully self-aware), but she still writes each new book with heart.
I liked Once and for All because the characters, like typical Dessen, are well-developed. Ancillary characters provide just enough support, just enough personality, and just enough history with our narrator to drive the plot forward at an easy-to-read-in-a-weekend pace. Plus, a wedding planning setting adds a lot of humor. Who doesn't love complaining about weddings?
While the plot here was mostly predictable, the characters felt real, which is really what I'm after when diving into a book. I want to believe these are real people I might meet, or have. I want to feel for them, to root for them, and to hate when they make stupid, selfish decisions. I don't want flowery language to distract from the story. I don't want four plots competing with each other. I don't want detailed history for every character.
Dessen knows how to write a book that makes you want to finish it the second you start it. Sure, she has room to "change it up" a bit, in terms of plot, but there's something comforting about knowing exactly what you're going to get from an author. She's like my childhood blanket — warm and soothing.
Most Dessen fans will recognize this plot. Many of her books share it in varying forms. I've read all 13. Even knowing what to expect with every one of her stories (young woman is trepidatious about love, worsening when she meets some quirky/dangerous/funny/persistent/adorable/charming man, pushing him and everyone away because of SOME. BIG. EVENT. IN. HER. PAST., until she realizes that was then and this is now, and gives him a chance, falling in love, and finally learning to be happy again.
Yet, I continue to read them. Because Sarah Dessen is a lovely writer. Yes, she's gotten into the bad habit of "calling back" to past characters or businesses in her new books (something I find painfully self-aware), but she still writes each new book with heart.
I liked Once and for All because the characters, like typical Dessen, are well-developed. Ancillary characters provide just enough support, just enough personality, and just enough history with our narrator to drive the plot forward at an easy-to-read-in-a-weekend pace. Plus, a wedding planning setting adds a lot of humor. Who doesn't love complaining about weddings?
While the plot here was mostly predictable, the characters felt real, which is really what I'm after when diving into a book. I want to believe these are real people I might meet, or have. I want to feel for them, to root for them, and to hate when they make stupid, selfish decisions. I don't want flowery language to distract from the story. I don't want four plots competing with each other. I don't want detailed history for every character.
Dessen knows how to write a book that makes you want to finish it the second you start it. Sure, she has room to "change it up" a bit, in terms of plot, but there's something comforting about knowing exactly what you're going to get from an author. She's like my childhood blanket — warm and soothing.
I really like the fact that Louna didn’t directly fall for the pretty boy Ambrose. In most books girls are falling for handsome boy even though they know it’s wrong and they have to be hard-to-get. But aren’t. That’s why i liked the beginnening. But when she switched her story into past sentence (she was telling the story between ethan and Louna), I couldn’t follow to be honest. I hadn’t noticed that she was talking about the past and not the present of the book. So I was a little confused at that point. And I actually have a confession to make too. I wasn’t a Ambrose-Louna shipper until he actually told her how he felt about her. Until that point I was a Ethan-Louna shipper. Ethan and Louna’s story I really like to read and it was so beautiful but still heartbreaking. I had tears in my eyes multiple times. And towards the end... I am sure a lot of people would not understand and maybe be mad at Louna for choosing Ben over Ambrose. God even I was at first. But I get it that she thought she only deserved one sunset-walk love. If I was her, I probably would have taken the same decision. Sometimes you do not dare or let yourself be happy or take the happiest decision, because you would feel guilty to be happy because someone you loved with all your heart isn’t here. So you think you can’t be happy because they aren’t here.
I really thought this would be a love story , nothing deep. But that’s not what this book is about. It’s not what you would expect reading the back of the book. But I highly recommend.
I really thought this would be a love story , nothing deep. But that’s not what this book is about. It’s not what you would expect reading the back of the book. But I highly recommend.