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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
2.5 stars. Ugh, definitely not my favourite Dessen book. I had to push hard to get through, and it all seems a bit pointless now. I didn't love Emaline, but Theo was the absolute worst! I felt sorry for him a couple of times, but overall I could not stand him. He reminded me of Alec Baldwin's character in Friends! The only characters I liked were Benji and Daisy, and their roles were pretty minimal. So, bummer. First book of the year and it was a bust. On the upside, I have the entire year ahead of me to enjoy.
Theo... I hated him. He was a pompous jerk. Other than that, I liked the book. I enjoyed the references to characters from some of her previous books, and the familiar setting of Colby.
Sarah Dessen's writing has grown up, along with some of her first readers. One of my absolute favourite books is [b:The Truth About Forever|51737|The Truth About Forever|Sarah Dessen|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1362767907s/51737.jpg|1032900] which made me laugh, cry and fall in love all at the same time. I've tried to get my hands on every Dessen book from then until now and although there have been some misses in the recent years ([b:Along for the Ride|5664985|Along for the Ride|Sarah Dessen|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347644125s/5664985.jpg|5836517] being the first book coming to mind), I've still been a consistent Dessen fan. With The Moon and More, I've had my faith in her books restored.
Emaline's spending her last summer in Colby helping her family's realty business and spending time with her perfect, high-school boyfriend Luke. They've been together ever since freshman year but lately their relationship has been less than perfect. Enter Theo Burns, a worldly college student who's interning with an intense film-maker called Ivy. Theo's different from what Emaline's used to, he's a visitor to the summer vacation spot that Emaline's lived all her life. Emaline's also dealing with other complications, such as her father who's visiting Colby with her half-brother Benji, the same guy who's made her promises about college that he had failed to live up to.
The Moon and More is a very bittersweet novel, about growing up and learning how to leave things behind. While I didn't connect with Emaline as much as I'd connected with Annabel (from [b:Just Listen|51738|Just Listen|Sarah Dessen|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1358270741s/51738.jpg|1032901]) or Macy (from The Truth About Forever), she was still a complicated MC to read about. Her relationship with her father was probably the most realistic part of her personality, I liked her distinction between her father and her dad as well. And I loved her family too, with her crazy sisters Margo and Amber. Her mom's the best too.
I did appreciate that Sarah Dessen's trying something new aside from her formulaic girl-meets-boy-her-world changes plots but the romance aspect of the novel fell kinda flat for me. I actually loved Luke, although I did find his propensity for going shirtless a bit maddening. However, I never felt that connection with Theo. It's understandable that Emaline wanted a summer romance, something new and different from her stable relationship with Luke but I didn't understand her attraction to Theo. Sure he's not all douche, as can be seen when he relates his past about being a high school geek to Emaline, but there were definitely parts where I wanted to shake him. Let me give you an example:
"Oh, no ordering off the For the Americanos section!" Theo said. "That's against the table rules!"
We all just looked at him. I said, "The what section?"
He took a sip of his water. "For the Americanos. That's what my dad called the section on a menu that's specifically for people who won't try anything out of their comfort zone. In our family, you weren't allowed to get anything like that. You had to go native, or go home."
Aside from the romance though, I enjoyed the rest of the novel,. The supporting cast of characters aren't as strong as they have been in previous Dessen novels, although I still found Morris and Daisy to be lovable dorks with their own voices. The Easter eggs are also plentiful in this novel, with characters from Along From the Ride making an appearance here, .
The Moon and More is a very bittersweet novel, one that's decidedly more grown-up as compared to her earlier novels. I enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to her future books!
Emaline's spending her last summer in Colby helping her family's realty business and spending time with her perfect, high-school boyfriend Luke. They've been together ever since freshman year but lately their relationship has been less than perfect. Enter Theo Burns, a worldly college student who's interning with an intense film-maker called Ivy. Theo's different from what Emaline's used to, he's a visitor to the summer vacation spot that Emaline's lived all her life. Emaline's also dealing with other complications, such as her father who's visiting Colby with her half-brother Benji, the same guy who's made her promises about college that he had failed to live up to.
The Moon and More is a very bittersweet novel, about growing up and learning how to leave things behind. While I didn't connect with Emaline as much as I'd connected with Annabel (from [b:Just Listen|51738|Just Listen|Sarah Dessen|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1358270741s/51738.jpg|1032901]) or Macy (from The Truth About Forever), she was still a complicated MC to read about. Her relationship with her father was probably the most realistic part of her personality, I liked her distinction between her father and her dad as well. And I loved her family too, with her crazy sisters Margo and Amber. Her mom's the best too.
I did appreciate that Sarah Dessen's trying something new aside from her formulaic girl-meets-boy-her-world changes plots but the romance aspect of the novel fell kinda flat for me. I actually loved Luke, although I did find his propensity for going shirtless a bit maddening. However, I never felt that connection with Theo. It's understandable that Emaline wanted a summer romance, something new and different from her stable relationship with Luke but I didn't understand her attraction to Theo. Sure he's not all douche, as can be seen when he relates his past about being a high school geek to Emaline, but there were definitely parts where I wanted to shake him. Let me give you an example:
"Oh, no ordering off the For the Americanos section!" Theo said. "That's against the table rules!"
We all just looked at him. I said, "The what section?"
He took a sip of his water. "For the Americanos. That's what my dad called the section on a menu that's specifically for people who won't try anything out of their comfort zone. In our family, you weren't allowed to get anything like that. You had to go native, or go home."
Spoiler
At this point in the novel he's honestly just met Morris and Daisy, who he knows are Emaline's best friends. Isn't it just an issue of manners not to make your significant other's friends uncomfortable, especially during your first meeting? Damn it, Theo.Aside from the romance though, I enjoyed the rest of the novel,
Spoiler
especially Emaline's realization that people will disappoint you in life and that she would never get the relationship that she wants with her father because not everything in life has a happy ending and sometimes your parents won't be what you need them to beSpoiler
especially Clyde who actually has a pretty important role to play in this novelThe Moon and More is a very bittersweet novel, one that's decidedly more grown-up as compared to her earlier novels. I enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to her future books!
lighthearted
slow-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:
No
I spent most of the book disliking it because the main love interest was insufferable, but then that turned out to be a plot point, so...
I liked the MC and her cast of friends but just wished we saw more of them sans romance interests.
I liked the MC and her cast of friends but just wished we saw more of them sans romance interests.
Not Sarah Dessen's best book but I did really like it.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
My first Sarah Dessen book, and while I liked it mostly, there were enough parts that I didn't like.
Bad parts:
1. She breaks up with her boyfriend and immediately gets kissed/gets in a relationship with a new guy. Hold on what? Did you even love your boyfriend? Since I don't know, but if my boyfriend of 5 years would break up, I would be heartbroken, sad, depressed. I wouldn't just kiss/get in a relationship with anyone immediately. That takes time and that time is not an hour.
2. I also got a bit confused about her dad/father thing. It was nicely added, but I think Stepdad and just dad would have been enough. Now at times I had to think which father/dad we were talking about now.
3. The predictable story. From the get go I had my suspicions about her relationship, about the whole town, about the whole story actually. And again I don't like predictable stories, I like stories that twist and turn around corners, wind around roads, go up and down, don't care about being straight. Sadly this book is quite straight and that is also why I deduced a star.
4. The characters. They were bland. Theo and Luke especially. They had their little roles, and little faults and it was up to Emaline to find them and act accordingly.
5. The whole everyone just bunks in her room thing. I can imagine the fumes/the whole house building is a bit annoying, but come on, it is a bit rude to just go into someone their room when they are not there. And especially if that person has asked you kindly to not go in there. I can imagine that sisters don't care about that, but the mom? Seriously? Just get out of the room, go outside, go somewhere else, don't just barge into your kids room and read her magazines/eat food on her bed etc.
6. The whole Clyde thing, it was interesting, but I really hated how both Theo and Ivy just pushed and pushed until Clyde finally just talked with them.
7. I disliked the older sister. She was just too bossy and too annoying. Thinking she was the boss/God of that business.
Now for the few things I liked (sorry there aren't a lot).
1. The Cover, it is adorable.
2. The setting, summer/beaches/growing up.
3. Daisy, she was an awesome character and I would have loved to see her creations. :)
4. I got various fun quotes out of this one.
Well as you can see, there are more bad things than good things, and that is also the reason why this is a 2 star, and not higher.
I will be seeing if I can find some more Sarah Dessen books, and I do hope they will be better. And if not, I guess she will go on my list of authors I don't want to to read. Which would be sad. :(
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
Bad parts:
1. She breaks up with her boyfriend and immediately gets kissed/gets in a relationship with a new guy. Hold on what? Did you even love your boyfriend? Since I don't know, but if my boyfriend of 5 years would break up, I would be heartbroken, sad, depressed. I wouldn't just kiss/get in a relationship with anyone immediately. That takes time and that time is not an hour.
2. I also got a bit confused about her dad/father thing. It was nicely added, but I think Stepdad and just dad would have been enough. Now at times I had to think which father/dad we were talking about now.
3. The predictable story. From the get go I had my suspicions about her relationship, about the whole town, about the whole story actually. And again I don't like predictable stories, I like stories that twist and turn around corners, wind around roads, go up and down, don't care about being straight. Sadly this book is quite straight and that is also why I deduced a star.
4. The characters. They were bland. Theo and Luke especially. They had their little roles, and little faults and it was up to Emaline to find them and act accordingly.
5. The whole everyone just bunks in her room thing. I can imagine the fumes/the whole house building is a bit annoying, but come on, it is a bit rude to just go into someone their room when they are not there. And especially if that person has asked you kindly to not go in there. I can imagine that sisters don't care about that, but the mom? Seriously? Just get out of the room, go outside, go somewhere else, don't just barge into your kids room and read her magazines/eat food on her bed etc.
6. The whole Clyde thing, it was interesting, but I really hated how both Theo and Ivy just pushed and pushed until Clyde finally just talked with them.
7. I disliked the older sister. She was just too bossy and too annoying. Thinking she was the boss/God of that business.
Now for the few things I liked (sorry there aren't a lot).
1. The Cover, it is adorable.
2. The setting, summer/beaches/growing up.
3. Daisy, she was an awesome character and I would have loved to see her creations. :)
4. I got various fun quotes out of this one.
Well as you can see, there are more bad things than good things, and that is also the reason why this is a 2 star, and not higher.
I will be seeing if I can find some more Sarah Dessen books, and I do hope they will be better. And if not, I guess she will go on my list of authors I don't want to to read. Which would be sad. :(
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/