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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
I loved the small town dynamics in this book. It gave one the feeling of being an insider in that town, and we got to see a lot of the geography, culture, and functions of the town. I also appreciated that she had complex and good relationships with different kinds of friends. Between Daisy, Luke, Morris,and her siblings, Dessen created some great supportive relationships. These friendships, not the romance, were really what made the book shine. I do wish the story between Emaline and all 3 of her parents was more fleshed out however. I mostly feel like we explored her relationship with her Father enough. But I was totally on her mom's side when she pointed out that Emaline wasn't around enough. Her parents seemed like interesting people, and her mom was so close with Amber. I really wanted to she her have more in depth interactions with her mom and dad. Even busy people tell their parents when they end and begin new relationships, and she really seemed to love her parents. Despite what she says, she never really tries to connect with them more before college. She didn't feel much like a real teenager, because she was never around her family. Real teenagers wish they had as much freedom as her.
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was the first Sarah Dessen novel I've ever read, picked up when I was looking for something light and summery to enjoy after reading thick classics and college textbooks. I was drawn mostly to the setting: my favorite parts of the summer include beach trips full of sand and surf. The beachtown in "The Moon and More" is a charming, touristy beach area which reminds me a lot of Ocean City, MD. I think Dessen did a fabulous job creating the town and building a believable setting.
The characters were definitely one of the stronger parts: from hardworking Emaline to adorable Benji, quirky Daisy and quiet Clyde, I really enjoyed the spectrum of people in the book. It was a lot of fun to read about each of them and watch as they each did their own thing.
On the whole, some parts were fairly predictable, but nothing felt too forced. There were a few weak moments or chapters that I felt were not totally necessary or could have been expanded upon, but I wasn't too upset about that. I certainly was immersed quite quickly into the story and all its ups and downs!
For a novel that is more of a "casual" read for me, it was enjoyable and fun.
The characters were definitely one of the stronger parts: from hardworking Emaline to adorable Benji, quirky Daisy and quiet Clyde, I really enjoyed the spectrum of people in the book. It was a lot of fun to read about each of them and watch as they each did their own thing.
On the whole, some parts were fairly predictable, but nothing felt too forced. There were a few weak moments or chapters that I felt were not totally necessary or could have been expanded upon, but I wasn't too upset about that. I certainly was immersed quite quickly into the story and all its ups and downs!
For a novel that is more of a "casual" read for me, it was enjoyable and fun.
Dessen is understated yet compelling--easy reading with psychological depth. The ending of this novel was contrived, but I was grateful she didn't tie everything up with a bow. Excellent local flavor in a setting that made me feel beach.
I was excited to read a Sarah Dessen book since I know she's been popular since before I was in high school. Unfortunately this book didn't really impress me very much. Anyone who knows me, knows that I absolutely love the beach. It's one of my favorite places in the world to be (and I've been on beaches in Hong Kong, Hawaii, Southern California, and New Jersey. Love them all). So I figured I would love this book.
For someone who grew up on a beach and who always "feels at home" whenever she touches sand, I don't recall a single scene where Emaline actually goes swimming in the ocean. I think there were only a couple scenes on the beach, if that. Even if there were scenes there, they didn't stick out to me. Now, obviously, this is a super nitpick since it's about Emaline's Coming-of-Age, but man. If you promise me a beach book I want the beach!
But I think the reason I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as I wanted to was because I didn't like either Luke or Theo. Heck, Morris was more interesting to me and the guy seemed high the entire time (though he was just lazy for most of the book). But then we got some interesting looks into his backstory and why he's lazy and lacking motivation.
I didn't get a strong sense of Emaline's character, at least until the end when she started doing things. I just felt like we wandered from scene to scene with no real sense of going anywhere except the end of the summer. I don't know. This book wasn't as bad as I'm making it out to be. I liked the side characters like Clyde and Daisy. I identified way too strongly with Emaline's dad remodeling the house endlessly (that was my childhood okay). Though bringing him up makes me think of something else that annoyed with me. Emaline called her biological father her "father" and her stepdad (though I guess not technically stepdad since he legally adopted her) her "dad". It was EXTREMELY confusing because she claimed that there was a difference between the two. And I guess I can see her point, but I use "my father" and "My dad" interchangeably and sometimes in the same paragraph. It would have made A LOT more sense (and made for ease-of-reading) if she called her biological father Joel. Hell, she doesn't ever address him by any name, real or nickname or otherwise, at any point in the book.
I guess I give this book 2.5 stars. I'm not wholly put off by Sarah Dessen so I'd be willing to read more by her. The storyline was definitely interesting even if the book didn't live up to it, and I absolutely loved the relationship between Emaline and her half-brother Benji.
For someone who grew up on a beach and who always "feels at home" whenever she touches sand, I don't recall a single scene where Emaline actually goes swimming in the ocean. I think there were only a couple scenes on the beach, if that. Even if there were scenes there, they didn't stick out to me. Now, obviously, this is a super nitpick since it's about Emaline's Coming-of-Age, but man. If you promise me a beach book I want the beach!
But I think the reason I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as I wanted to was because I didn't like either Luke or Theo. Heck, Morris was more interesting to me and the guy seemed high the entire time (though he was just lazy for most of the book). But then we got some interesting looks into his backstory and why he's lazy and lacking motivation.
I didn't get a strong sense of Emaline's character, at least until the end when she started doing things. I just felt like we wandered from scene to scene with no real sense of going anywhere except the end of the summer. I don't know. This book wasn't as bad as I'm making it out to be. I liked the side characters like Clyde and Daisy. I identified way too strongly with Emaline's dad remodeling the house endlessly (that was my childhood okay). Though bringing him up makes me think of something else that annoyed with me. Emaline called her biological father her "father" and her stepdad (though I guess not technically stepdad since he legally adopted her) her "dad". It was EXTREMELY confusing because she claimed that there was a difference between the two. And I guess I can see her point, but I use "my father" and "My dad" interchangeably and sometimes in the same paragraph. It would have made A LOT more sense (and made for ease-of-reading) if she called her biological father Joel. Hell, she doesn't ever address him by any name, real or nickname or otherwise, at any point in the book.
I guess I give this book 2.5 stars. I'm not wholly put off by Sarah Dessen so I'd be willing to read more by her. The storyline was definitely interesting even if the book didn't live up to it, and I absolutely loved the relationship between Emaline and her half-brother Benji.
This one is really different than her others, but I still really like it. It didn't "tank" like some people dramatically stated after its release, but its ending felt a little more real. Really struggling not to say something stupidly cheesy like "sometimes it's about..." but really. Sometimes it's not about romantic relationships, but rather choosing yourself. Way to go, Dessen. This is great.
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
Dessen is so good at creating settings that feel real and familiar, and I loved that this book wasn't your typical YA romance, but much more about a young woman finding herself.
Sarah Dessen has never written a bad book in my opinion. However, the last few books have been amazing. I read this all in one sitting on the train. Definitely a beach book. Nice plot, never got boring or tedious.
