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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
Normally I am crazy about Sarah's books, but this one just didn't do it for me. I think if you hadn't read any of her previous books you would love this one as the writing is still great, but to me it was the same story she's already told: Summer in Colby, summer love, ending.
Morris stole my heart in this book. Forget Luke, Emaline and definitely forget about Theo! They are nothing. I kept reading with the hope that Morris would show up and of course Dessen did not fail me. Talk later.
another typically wonderful, formulaic, dessen novel. good summer read!
I read [b:That Summer|104379|That Summer|Sarah Dessen|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1309197116s/104379.jpg|1070158] many, many years ago, was disappointed in Sarah Dessen's writing overall, and never bothered to return to her -- until mandated by my book club.
I was hoping that in the 11 or so years since I'd last read her she'd become a better writer. And while I think this was probably better than "That Summer," I won't be returning to Dessen on my own any time soon.
There were so many characters, so much going on, and so many pages in this novel (luckily, there was fairly large font so it read quickly). I just kept wondering if we really needed so much crammed in. She had three sisters, two dads, a mom, a stepmom, a best girlfriend, a best guy friend, a half-brother, a long-time boyfriend, a new love interest, and random small-town acquaintances and big city visitors, some of which were more important than others. All of these trying to clamor for some "page time" and demanding their own story arcs, so that the whole thing came across feeling over ambitious and under developed.
Although the book sells itself as a "love triangle" story -- a break up with a long-time boyfriend, a summer fling with an out-of-towner -- the love triangle is not especially compelling. The new boyfriend is too annoying to sweep a reader off her feet, and the old boyfriend gets to little attention. Still, I rooted for the old boyfriend. Don't worry, I won't give away how it ends!
The family relationships are more compelling, particularly the relationship between Emaline and her half brother Benji. And the relationship that seems to define and change Emaline most seems to be the one with her estranged father.
Fans of Sarah Dessen tend to pick her up because she writes fun, "light" reads. While that's mostly true, I think her books rub me the wrong way because they always seem to be trying to be something more. Mostly light, with a dash of pretentious. I'll pass.
I was hoping that in the 11 or so years since I'd last read her she'd become a better writer. And while I think this was probably better than "That Summer," I won't be returning to Dessen on my own any time soon.
There were so many characters, so much going on, and so many pages in this novel (luckily, there was fairly large font so it read quickly). I just kept wondering if we really needed so much crammed in. She had three sisters, two dads, a mom, a stepmom, a best girlfriend, a best guy friend, a half-brother, a long-time boyfriend, a new love interest, and random small-town acquaintances and big city visitors, some of which were more important than others. All of these trying to clamor for some "page time" and demanding their own story arcs, so that the whole thing came across feeling over ambitious and under developed.
Although the book sells itself as a "love triangle" story -- a break up with a long-time boyfriend, a summer fling with an out-of-towner -- the love triangle is not especially compelling. The new boyfriend is too annoying to sweep a reader off her feet, and the old boyfriend gets to little attention. Still, I rooted for the old boyfriend. Don't worry, I won't give away how it ends!
The family relationships are more compelling, particularly the relationship between Emaline and her half brother Benji. And the relationship that seems to define and change Emaline most seems to be the one with her estranged father.
Fans of Sarah Dessen tend to pick her up because she writes fun, "light" reads. While that's mostly true, I think her books rub me the wrong way because they always seem to be trying to be something more. Mostly light, with a dash of pretentious. I'll pass.
Let's see. I think that Theo is just an older version of Benjii at times. When I read Benjii's dialogue, I read it really fast. In my mind, he's really hyper and can't sit still, so that's why I read it that way.
The ending of this book really annoyed me. I mean, why have cute romances when the GIRL IS GOING TO WIND UP WITH EITHER OF THE GUYS!!!!! I thought that Theo and Emaline were cute together. I know they disagree sometimes, but don't all couples? I feel bad saying this, but I didn't love this book like I thought I would. Just Listen is still my favorite.
Morris and Daisy are like total opposites, BUT they work! Morris was so in love with Daisy that he started doing something with his life. I love them as a couple. I think, though, that Morris is an old person name, no offense.
Ivy and Emaline really don't hate each other, it turns out. Well. I didn't expect Emaline to take the job from Ivy. I still don't understand why Theo was so pissed that Emaline took the job. I liked Theo when he first appeared. When he and Emaline started fighting, I kind of started hating Theo.
Emaline is a really pretty name. Her character is awesome. And she has a really great relationship with Benjii, Morris, and Daisy. I'm leaving now, still disappointed a little.
The ending of this book really annoyed me. I mean, why have cute romances when the GIRL IS GOING TO WIND UP WITH EITHER OF THE GUYS!!!!! I thought that Theo and Emaline were cute together. I know they disagree sometimes, but don't all couples? I feel bad saying this, but I didn't love this book like I thought I would. Just Listen is still my favorite.
Morris and Daisy are like total opposites, BUT they work! Morris was so in love with Daisy that he started doing something with his life. I love them as a couple. I think, though, that Morris is an old person name, no offense.
Ivy and Emaline really don't hate each other, it turns out. Well. I didn't expect Emaline to take the job from Ivy. I still don't understand why Theo was so pissed that Emaline took the job. I liked Theo when he first appeared. When he and Emaline started fighting, I kind of started hating Theo.
Emaline is a really pretty name. Her character is awesome. And she has a really great relationship with Benjii, Morris, and Daisy. I'm leaving now, still disappointed a little.
Source: Received an ARC from publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I am a huge Sarah Dessen fan; I've read all of our books and thus was thrilled to receive an early copy of her latest release. With the gorgeous cover, I was expecting my usual Dessen comfort read. Could it live up to the impossibly high standards set by This Lullaby and The Truth About Forever? Probably not but it would still be good. I was right to predict that this would not be my favorite Dessen but for different reasons than I expected.
For me, I think my love of Dessen relates mostly to her amazing writing that builds fantastic characters, rich and complex yet realistic contemporary worlds, and sawoony romances (see Remy + Dex and Macy + Wes). Well those first two are present here but the last one is mostly missing. Although I had felt Dessen's novels were becoming a bit formulaic (especially noticeable to me in What Happened to Goodbye and the reason I thought I might not like this one), this change still didn't entirely please me. I don't want to spoil anything but you can email me to discuss :)
The book opens with Emaline in a relationship with Luke, possibly the hottest young guy in town. But as the summer before college progresses, Emaline finds herself drawn to something new, maybe something more with summer visitor Theo. Sounds very romantic, right? Well, that relationship never really flourishes like the two I previously mentioned as Emaline grapples with family tensions and with trying to figure out her own desires in comparison to how Theo plunges ahead. Her mother has always wanted "the moon and more" for her but what does that mean to Emaline?
As I said, the romance wasn't as dreamy as previous relationships in Dessen novels with Theo trying way too hard and Emaline tolerating his try. There were some awkward parts to me although I believe that was intentional on Dessen's part. On the family side, I wish we had gotten to know Emaline's older sisters a bit better (I'm thinking of the family dynamic in Just Listen especially) but at least we have her friends Morris and Daisy whose colorfulness certainly brightened my day.
Overall: For me, this book was mostly a victim of my expectations: I appreciate every Dessen book I get even though I don't always love them. I still think this is a great summer read and I definitely recommend it to fans of Dessen's previous novels as well as those looking for a great summer contemporary read.
I am a huge Sarah Dessen fan; I've read all of our books and thus was thrilled to receive an early copy of her latest release. With the gorgeous cover, I was expecting my usual Dessen comfort read. Could it live up to the impossibly high standards set by This Lullaby and The Truth About Forever? Probably not but it would still be good. I was right to predict that this would not be my favorite Dessen but for different reasons than I expected.
For me, I think my love of Dessen relates mostly to her amazing writing that builds fantastic characters, rich and complex yet realistic contemporary worlds, and sawoony romances (see Remy + Dex and Macy + Wes). Well those first two are present here but the last one is mostly missing. Although I had felt Dessen's novels were becoming a bit formulaic (especially noticeable to me in What Happened to Goodbye and the reason I thought I might not like this one), this change still didn't entirely please me. I don't want to spoil anything but you can email me to discuss :)
The book opens with Emaline in a relationship with Luke, possibly the hottest young guy in town. But as the summer before college progresses, Emaline finds herself drawn to something new, maybe something more with summer visitor Theo. Sounds very romantic, right? Well, that relationship never really flourishes like the two I previously mentioned as Emaline grapples with family tensions and with trying to figure out her own desires in comparison to how Theo plunges ahead. Her mother has always wanted "the moon and more" for her but what does that mean to Emaline?
As I said, the romance wasn't as dreamy as previous relationships in Dessen novels with Theo trying way too hard and Emaline tolerating his try. There were some awkward parts to me although I believe that was intentional on Dessen's part. On the family side, I wish we had gotten to know Emaline's older sisters a bit better (I'm thinking of the family dynamic in Just Listen especially) but at least we have her friends Morris and Daisy whose colorfulness certainly brightened my day.
Overall: For me, this book was mostly a victim of my expectations: I appreciate every Dessen book I get even though I don't always love them. I still think this is a great summer read and I definitely recommend it to fans of Dessen's previous novels as well as those looking for a great summer contemporary read.
I thought this book would be an easy summer read and while it was that it didn't add anything any more interesting than that.
It pains me to have to give one of my favorite authors this type of review. I agree with another reader's review that the best part of the book was really in the last 30 pages. Something about Emaline's character rubbed me the wrong way the entire time until the end. I was expecting more because I'm always anticipating a new book from Dessen. One thing that I did love and started noticing during "Along for the Ride," is the references to characters from her other stories which always make me want to go back and read them all again. Her character and the story missed the mark a bit this time, but I still can't wait for her next story.
I wish she had written this one four years ago when I needed it.
Once again Dessen writes a tale that touches so many teenage women and I could have used this four years ago, like her other books that all helped me grow in some way.
Not to say it's a perfectly crafted work of fiction or anything... if this had been the first book I read by her I would not be inclined to stay with the genre or her works. So I guess this lacks a lot of the hard hitting things that affected me or I've grown out of the genre. In any case, a little fluffier than before.
Nonetheless, really great to have a book by her for once where the new male introduced is not a magical perfect boyfriend that makes the story and the girl's life. This isn't to discredit her other books, but it was a nice change in plot.
I also have vacationed where this book is meant to take place so that was pretty cool. Wish she had done a book signing in Pittsburgh, I would love to finally meet her.
Once again Dessen writes a tale that touches so many teenage women and I could have used this four years ago, like her other books that all helped me grow in some way.
Not to say it's a perfectly crafted work of fiction or anything... if this had been the first book I read by her I would not be inclined to stay with the genre or her works. So I guess this lacks a lot of the hard hitting things that affected me or I've grown out of the genre. In any case, a little fluffier than before.
Nonetheless, really great to have a book by her for once where the new male introduced is not a magical perfect boyfriend that makes the story and the girl's life. This isn't to discredit her other books, but it was a nice change in plot.
I also have vacationed where this book is meant to take place so that was pretty cool. Wish she had done a book signing in Pittsburgh, I would love to finally meet her.