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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
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
2.75/5 stars
PROS:
--This book read quick in most places but some of the chapters felt needlessly padded.
--Loved Louna as a main character (despite the dumb origin of her name that was completely unnecessary).
--Everything about Ethan had my heart in shambles by the end.
CONS:
--It's not a good sign when I think the main love interest is legitimately annoying and I hate most of the scenes that he's in. Granted he got better as the story went on, but bro just stole a dog with no consequences and also held up his mom's wedding to hit on a girl. He's a golden retriever in human form in the worst ways. Not to mention he and Louna have zero chemistry and the only reason she starts liking him is the most doctored, fake shit I've read in a romance novel.
--Maybe don't have sex with and then say 'I love you' within five hours of meeting someone.
--I really disliked the author's use of a school shooting as a plot point not once, but twice.
PROS:
--This book read quick in most places but some of the chapters felt needlessly padded.
--Loved Louna as a main character (despite the dumb origin of her name that was completely unnecessary).
--Everything about Ethan had my heart in shambles by the end.
CONS:
--It's not a good sign when I think the main love interest is legitimately annoying and I hate most of the scenes that he's in. Granted he got better as the story went on, but bro just stole a dog with no consequences and also held up his mom's wedding to hit on a girl. He's a golden retriever in human form in the worst ways. Not to mention he and Louna have zero chemistry and the only reason she starts liking him is the most doctored, fake shit I've read in a romance novel.
--Maybe don't have sex with and then say 'I love you' within five hours of meeting someone.
--I really disliked the author's use of a school shooting as a plot point not once, but twice.
There's following a formula, and then there's an absolute refusal to imagine any other version of a romantic relationship. Or mother-daughter relationship. Or owner-dog relationship. Or how words work.
2019. 3.5 Stars. There's something about this book that doesn't sit right. I don't know if it's the romance (both of them), the main guy or just the fact that it feels like a rehash of This Lullaby but minus the music.
I love Louna, even if I hate her name, and all the side characters. It's really just Ambrose.
I love Louna, even if I hate her name, and all the side characters. It's really just Ambrose.
This was sooo cute.
I love the wedding aspect and all the characters. The book easy to read and fly through. The ending did feel a bit rushed, I wished their was more time with the couple at the end but it was a good book nevertheless. I definitely recommend this to get out of reading slump or just a quick cute read.
I love the wedding aspect and all the characters. The book easy to read and fly through. The ending did feel a bit rushed, I wished their was more time with the couple at the end but it was a good book nevertheless. I definitely recommend this to get out of reading slump or just a quick cute read.
"May you always have the answers to each other's most important questions"
Louna is so wise, and Sarah Dessen is so my favorite YA author.
Loved it, mainly. Not my favorite at all - there were some things that just didn't click. I don't know if it's because I grew up and now I'm more skeptical, but anyway. Great book, not on her top 5-10 though.
I'll give her five stars just because of her wisdom.
Louna is so wise, and Sarah Dessen is so my favorite YA author.
Loved it, mainly. Not my favorite at all - there were some things that just didn't click. I don't know if it's because I grew up and now I'm more skeptical, but anyway. Great book, not on her top 5-10 though.
I'll give her five stars just because of her wisdom.
Typical vanilla Sarah dessen but still enjoyable nonetheless.
Sarah Dessen books are like coming back home from college for a visit. No matter how old I get or how "mature" I feel, these books always bring me back to the feeling of young love. I may not read them all the time but when I do, I become nostalgic and a hopeful romantic again. Once and For All is a reminder that your first great love may not be your last, which is such a departure from regular YA books. In life, you don't just get one sunset walk (soulmate, great love, etc.) you can always have another one. For me, even being young in the grand scheme of life, this gives me hope. Perhaps I have been like Louna's mom, a romantic cynic, for so long.
Anyways, persona rant over, but I really liked this book. I always love the world of Sarah Dessen. I definitely teared up a bit when I read the last ten pages. Although this is not my favourite Dessen book (The Truth About Forever has held that moniker for eight years) I really liked this book, more than I thought I would. It was a wonderful quick read (I devoured it over the past 24 hours) and I recommend to everyone. Now to start waiting for the next Sarah Dessen book!!
Anyways, persona rant over, but I really liked this book. I always love the world of Sarah Dessen. I definitely teared up a bit when I read the last ten pages. Although this is not my favourite Dessen book (The Truth About Forever has held that moniker for eight years) I really liked this book, more than I thought I would. It was a wonderful quick read (I devoured it over the past 24 hours) and I recommend to everyone. Now to start waiting for the next Sarah Dessen book!!
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Content Warnings
Minor: Mass/school shootings