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A great YA novel about second chances and getting over and surviving your first love.
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm afraid Sarah Dessen has lost the magic she once possessed.
I really don't know why I put off reading this for so long. There was a time when I would read two Sarah Dessen books in one day. They're just so easy to get into, at least for me. This book was no different. I liked the characters enough, I was into the story, and the only reason it took me a few days was because I was finishing something else.
It was easy to feel for Louna. I too am kind of a cynic when it comes to marriage and true love and all that. Also not a big fan of instalove, which happened in this book quite a few times for almost every character. But I could look past that because I just truly felt that every one of them deserved that sweet summer romance (which, I remember now, is really what all of her books are about). Towards the end, it felt like nothing was happening, and then everything was happening at once.
It does kinda get old how predictable these books are, but I guess it's just a matter of personal preference. I personally feel very comfortable with them, like going into a nice summer break after a particularly hellish semester. I would have to reread some of the older books though, because right now I only remember the feeling I had while reading them instead of the books themselves.
It was easy to feel for Louna. I too am kind of a cynic when it comes to marriage and true love and all that. Also not a big fan of instalove, which happened in this book quite a few times for almost every character. But I could look past that because I just truly felt that every one of them deserved that sweet summer romance (which, I remember now, is really what all of her books are about). Towards the end, it felt like nothing was happening, and then everything was happening at once.
It does kinda get old how predictable these books are, but I guess it's just a matter of personal preference. I personally feel very comfortable with them, like going into a nice summer break after a particularly hellish semester. I would have to reread some of the older books though, because right now I only remember the feeling I had while reading them instead of the books themselves.
"You stop believing in wishes when the only one you want to make can never come true."
6 years ago I started reading "The Truth About Forever", I remember being bored to death at first, then without even realizing what was happening I loved it, and she became my favorite author and since then I've read almost all her books. This book was a typical Dessen, it was so much like "The Truth About Forever". I loved it even though things were so slow in the first half of the book, even though things actually happened at the end. It just reminded me of why I loved Sarah Dessen in the first place, and why her books saved me once.
6 years ago I started reading "The Truth About Forever", I remember being bored to death at first, then without even realizing what was happening I loved it, and she became my favorite author and since then I've read almost all her books. This book was a typical Dessen, it was so much like "The Truth About Forever". I loved it even though things were so slow in the first half of the book, even though things actually happened at the end. It just reminded me of why I loved Sarah Dessen in the first place, and why her books saved me once.
It was a very cute contemporary book. This was the first Sarah Dessen book that I have read and I was very happy with how it was. I heard amazing things about this author and I think that her writing is beautiful and tells a story very very well.
Full Review To Come
xoxo,
Bebe
Full Review To Come
xoxo,
Bebe
Sweet. Manages not to be sticky sweet because of the strong character voice.
Exactly what a Sarah Dessen book has always been- light and formulaic. Got confused by some details that seemed to conflict, nothing a sharp editor couldn't fix.
dark
emotional
lighthearted
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Every time I read a book by Sarah Dessen, I want to cry. She always knows how to tackle a tough topic and this time, reading about grief and school shootings was hard. The fact that this topic is so prominent in our nation is hard to believe at times but reading a book from the perspective of a girl who lost someone she cared for greatly is a great way to view the topic. Sarah is able to write Louna’s grief and recovery was well written. I also enjoyed reading Ambrose and Louna’s relationship turn from not really liking one another, to becoming friends, and finally landing on falling for one another. It was a fresh take on the enemies to lovers troupe. Also the ending, where she thought she had lost Ambrose from a car accident and seeing Louna having to grieve all over again before finding out that he’s okay was hard to swallow.
I was not expecting this dark side to the book.
The book had it's cute and funny parts but not enough, or at least not as the synopsis painted it to be.
The main character, Louna is forgettable, there's nothing outstanding about her. I actually would've preferred this book to be more about Natalie, William and Ambrose.
Ambrose just messing everything up, William laughinng about it and Natalie stressing about it.
Back to Louna, I get she acts weird because she's grieving but it doesn't feel like she is, she only appears so when the plot needs her to. But i guess everybody mourns differently.
The love interest: Ambrose (what kind of name is Ambrose?) was cute sometimes but I didn't feel like he was the perfect match for Louna.
First of all, he's a womanizer, he obviously has some family issues he needs to work on.
I meaaaan her mom just doesnt give a crap about him. She doesnt care that he sleeps in strangers' houses or maybe she doesnt know but thats because she's not present.
She appeared only once and the only person in his family that actually cares about his wellbeing is his sister.
That negligence has to affect him somehow, maybe thats why he's such a flirt and a womanizer.
I really like Ambrose but I feel like he's not mature enough and he's not ready to commit. I mean he was planning on sort of dating Lauren, have some hook ups with her then dump her and then date Louna? That's a bit messed up.
On the other hand, I loved Ethan, but that was a WEIRD RELATIONSHIP.
I mean 1.they had sex after knowing each other for like 2hours. Fine, it's normal for some people buuuut
2. they said "I LOVE YOU" after 12hours of knowing each other.
WHAAAT THE HECK?????
3.That was the only time they were together.
After that, the whole relationship was long distance. Usually long distance relationships work because the couple already know each other and seen each other more than once (there's the exception of online dating)
4.How come Ethan didn't tell his parents he had a girlfriend??
The book doesn't actually tell us if his parents knew about her existence but I think if they did, they would've reached out to her, right? And tell her the bad news? Maybe they knew about her and they completely forgot about her since they were focused in the funeral arrangements and all thr grief. or they knew but just felt that she wasn't important enough to attend the funeral?
HOWEVER his friends knew about Ethan's girlfriend but they weren't kind enough to call her and tell her:
"Hey, you know the guy you've been dating for a year? Yeah? The guy you talk to on the phone every morning (and we've actually been part of your conversations) Well, he was killed this morning, ok bai."
5. She didnt go to the friggin funeral, like why? (I know she was sick but my question is directed to Sarah, not the actual explanation of why she couldn't go,) but like why Sarah? Why couldn't she go to the freaking funeral, I mean we had to read like 10 chapters of their meeting, which lasted just one night and we couldn't have a freaking scene of Louna saying goodbye to the guy?
I honestly feel like Ethan's death was unnecessary, I know it served to the plot because Louna doesnt believe in love. And she has this walls etc etc
but the shooting was also unnecessary. I didn't feel like Louna actually properly addressed the issue. She mentioned that people only read about the Victim's name and they feel pity but they move on. Well, when the second shooting happened, Louna only reqd their name and got over it.
I dont know what i was expecting?
Maybe she could've visited the victims' family, not right after the shooting of course (because they are grieving and maybe having to deal with strangers isnnt what they need) but she couldve done something nice for them, idk
What do you think?
The book had it's cute and funny parts but not enough, or at least not as the synopsis painted it to be.
The main character, Louna is forgettable, there's nothing outstanding about her. I actually would've preferred this book to be more about Natalie, William and Ambrose.
Ambrose just messing everything up, William laughinng about it and Natalie stressing about it.
Back to Louna, I get she acts weird because she's grieving but it doesn't feel like she is, she only appears so when the plot needs her to. But i guess everybody mourns differently.
The love interest: Ambrose (what kind of name is Ambrose?) was cute sometimes but I didn't feel like he was the perfect match for Louna.
First of all, he's a womanizer, he obviously has some family issues he needs to work on.
I meaaaan her mom just doesnt give a crap about him. She doesnt care that he sleeps in strangers' houses or maybe she doesnt know but thats because she's not present.
She appeared only once and the only person in his family that actually cares about his wellbeing is his sister.
That negligence has to affect him somehow, maybe thats why he's such a flirt and a womanizer.
I really like Ambrose but I feel like he's not mature enough and he's not ready to commit. I mean he was planning on sort of dating Lauren, have some hook ups with her then dump her and then date Louna? That's a bit messed up.
On the other hand, I loved Ethan, but that was a WEIRD RELATIONSHIP.
I mean 1.they had sex after knowing each other for like 2hours. Fine, it's normal for some people buuuut
2. they said "I LOVE YOU" after 12hours of knowing each other.
WHAAAT THE HECK?????
3.That was the only time they were together.
After that, the whole relationship was long distance. Usually long distance relationships work because the couple already know each other and seen each other more than once (there's the exception of online dating)
4.How come Ethan didn't tell his parents he had a girlfriend??
The book doesn't actually tell us if his parents knew about her existence but I think if they did, they would've reached out to her, right? And tell her the bad news? Maybe they knew about her and they completely forgot about her since they were focused in the funeral arrangements and all thr grief. or they knew but just felt that she wasn't important enough to attend the funeral?
HOWEVER his friends knew about Ethan's girlfriend but they weren't kind enough to call her and tell her:
"Hey, you know the guy you've been dating for a year? Yeah? The guy you talk to on the phone every morning (and we've actually been part of your conversations) Well, he was killed this morning, ok bai."
5. She didnt go to the friggin funeral, like why? (I know she was sick but my question is directed to Sarah, not the actual explanation of why she couldn't go,) but like why Sarah? Why couldn't she go to the freaking funeral, I mean we had to read like 10 chapters of their meeting, which lasted just one night and we couldn't have a freaking scene of Louna saying goodbye to the guy?
I honestly feel like Ethan's death was unnecessary, I know it served to the plot because Louna doesnt believe in love. And she has this walls etc etc
but the shooting was also unnecessary. I didn't feel like Louna actually properly addressed the issue. She mentioned that people only read about the Victim's name and they feel pity but they move on. Well, when the second shooting happened, Louna only reqd their name and got over it.
I dont know what i was expecting?
Maybe she could've visited the victims' family, not right after the shooting of course (because they are grieving and maybe having to deal with strangers isnnt what they need) but she couldve done something nice for them, idk
What do you think?