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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
I don't love this book as much as Sarah Dessen's others. I think it's because I don't like Owen as much as the other guys in Lakeview.
Annabel used to have it all. Friends and modeling and a great family. And then something happened that caused her best friend to cut her out and turn people against her and her sister was hospitalized for an eating disorder. When school starts, Annabel meets Owen, who teaches her what it's like to tell the truth instead of holding everything in all the time.
Annabel's storyline is extremely compelling, leaving out the Owen parts. But I just wanted her to speak up. I kind of hated Sophie for how slut-shame-y she was and for how she dropped Annabel because of what happened. I also didn't love Owen. He felt too bad-boy-for-no-reason. But Annabel's reaction to the assault and dealing with her sister Whitney felt very believable and very real.
I loved the cameo by Dexter and Remy and Truth Squad (hate Spinnerbait!) and the mention of Wes and Macy at the breakfast place.
I think that This Lullaby and The Truth about Forever are just very difficult to follow up. This book does mention sexual assault (it's even described) and some underage drinking and some language. So maybe somewhere in between This Lullaby and The Truth about Forever in terms of content.
Annabel used to have it all. Friends and modeling and a great family. And then something happened that caused her best friend to cut her out and turn people against her and her sister was hospitalized for an eating disorder. When school starts, Annabel meets Owen, who teaches her what it's like to tell the truth instead of holding everything in all the time.
Annabel's storyline is extremely compelling, leaving out the Owen parts. But I just wanted her to speak up. I kind of hated Sophie for how slut-shame-y she was and for how she dropped Annabel because of what happened. I also didn't love Owen. He felt too bad-boy-for-no-reason. But Annabel's reaction to the assault and dealing with her sister Whitney felt very believable and very real.
I loved the cameo by Dexter and Remy and Truth Squad (hate Spinnerbait!) and the mention of Wes and Macy at the breakfast place.
I think that This Lullaby and The Truth about Forever are just very difficult to follow up. This book does mention sexual assault (it's even described) and some underage drinking and some language. So maybe somewhere in between This Lullaby and The Truth about Forever in terms of content.
I have to say, that while I read the last page of this book during my dean's monologue, it barely held my attention. Which is saying a lot. This wasn't exactly a boring book. It just wasn't really all that intriguing. Just Listen is a typical Dessen novel. A misunderstood girl, meets mysterious goth guy, tries to resolve some Hallmark-type problem, problem is resolved and everyone is happy. Plus, this girl learns a lesson. Right. I think I went full-circle with the Dessen novels.
I first got interested in Dessen novels because I was bored and I had heard that Dessen was a big romantic novelist. So, I thought to get a cheap thrill I could just pick up, [b:Someone Like You|816953|Someone Like You|Sarah Dessen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1295712925s/816953.jpg|802840]. Unfortunately, I got extremely disappointed. Clean, pure romance(barely). Bland main character. Predictable love interest. The same could pretty much be said for [b:Keeping the Moon|104378|Keeping the Moon|Sarah Dessen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1282845869s/104378.jpg|100634]. When I read [b:What Happened to Goodbye|8492856|What Happened to Goodbye|Sarah Dessen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1311281773s/8492856.jpg|13014066] however, I began to think that perhaps Dessen wasn't so bad afterall. I had a bit of a lapse with[b:That Summer|104379|That Summer|Sarah Dessen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1309197116s/104379.jpg|1070158]. But then I read [b:This Lullaby|22205|This Lullaby|Sarah Dessen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1319403077s/22205.jpg|132402] and my mind was blown. Now, just recently I have completed this novel, the Dessen novel that people rave about(believe me. This girl told me how much she loved it out of the blue, today). And you know what, I feel the same way I felt when I read Someone Like You. Bland main character. Predictable love interest. Clean, pure romance(barely). Sure, I liked the writing, the typical descriptive Dessen writing. If anything, that is what gave this novel three stars. Oh, but I did like Owen. Even if he was in all of other Dessen novels(figuratively).
OHHHHHH! And I loved the fact that the characters from This Lullaby made a cameo. :)
[b:Someone Like You|816953|Someone Like You|Sarah Dessen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1295712925s/816953.jpg|802840] ☑
[b:What Happened to Goodbye|8492856|What Happened to Goodbye|Sarah Dessen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1311281773s/8492856.jpg|13014066] ☑
[b:That Summer|104379|That Summer|Sarah Dessen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1309197116s/104379.jpg|1070158] ☑
[b:This Lullaby|22205|This Lullaby|Sarah Dessen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1319403077s/22205.jpg|132402] ☑
[b:Just Listen|51738|Just Listen|Sarah Dessen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1268787224s/51738.jpg|1032901] ☑
☻
I first got interested in Dessen novels because I was bored and I had heard that Dessen was a big romantic novelist. So, I thought to get a cheap thrill I could just pick up, [b:Someone Like You|816953|Someone Like You|Sarah Dessen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1295712925s/816953.jpg|802840]. Unfortunately, I got extremely disappointed. Clean, pure romance(barely). Bland main character. Predictable love interest. The same could pretty much be said for [b:Keeping the Moon|104378|Keeping the Moon|Sarah Dessen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1282845869s/104378.jpg|100634]. When I read [b:What Happened to Goodbye|8492856|What Happened to Goodbye|Sarah Dessen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1311281773s/8492856.jpg|13014066] however, I began to think that perhaps Dessen wasn't so bad afterall. I had a bit of a lapse with[b:That Summer|104379|That Summer|Sarah Dessen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1309197116s/104379.jpg|1070158]. But then I read [b:This Lullaby|22205|This Lullaby|Sarah Dessen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1319403077s/22205.jpg|132402] and my mind was blown. Now, just recently I have completed this novel, the Dessen novel that people rave about(believe me. This girl told me how much she loved it out of the blue, today). And you know what, I feel the same way I felt when I read Someone Like You. Bland main character. Predictable love interest. Clean, pure romance(barely). Sure, I liked the writing, the typical descriptive Dessen writing. If anything, that is what gave this novel three stars. Oh, but I did like Owen. Even if he was in all of other Dessen novels(figuratively).
OHHHHHH! And I loved the fact that the characters from This Lullaby made a cameo. :)
[b:Someone Like You|816953|Someone Like You|Sarah Dessen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1295712925s/816953.jpg|802840] ☑
[b:What Happened to Goodbye|8492856|What Happened to Goodbye|Sarah Dessen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1311281773s/8492856.jpg|13014066] ☑
[b:That Summer|104379|That Summer|Sarah Dessen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1309197116s/104379.jpg|1070158] ☑
[b:This Lullaby|22205|This Lullaby|Sarah Dessen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1319403077s/22205.jpg|132402] ☑
[b:Just Listen|51738|Just Listen|Sarah Dessen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1268787224s/51738.jpg|1032901] ☑
☻
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
medium-paced
A good feel good summer read. Loved Mallory, loved her funny personality. I'm on the fence of giving a 3 and half rating or 4 star. Being the overall rating is a 4 star. I went with 4 stars.
emotional
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Sexual assault
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
(Full review can be found on my blog, Paper Riot)
To be honest, I had never heard of Sarah Dessen before I started this blog. But since I have been blogging, I've been hearing nothing but wonderful things about her books. Apparently everyone had read and loved them but me. (And Cassie.) So when I came across two of her books in my library, I had to take them with me to see for myself. And because I never say no to a swoony romance. I know that this book has been released ages ago (2006!) but I still wanted to let you know what I thought, since Sarah Dessen seems to be such a phenonemon and I just want to talk to you about it.
The first thing I thought when I was finished was: well, fourteen-year-old me would have LOVED this book. Because when I was fourteen, I went through a phase where I only read contemporary romances where girls looked stunning and fought with their friends and met cute boys that changed everything. Girls who were models and movie stars and lived in huge houses and had everything they ever wanted. Yes, I was that superficial, and no, this book was definitely not that superficial. But it did remind me a lot of the books I read back then and I think I would have appreciated it more if I read it back then, too. Because though I really enjoyed reading it, it was also a bit disappointing compared to what I was expecting.
My disappointment had nothing to do with the writing, or the characters, or the plot even. Dessen's writing has a steady pacing and changes from present to past at perfect times. The characters were likeable, and though a bit flat at first, they all grew on me and became more understandable throughout the story. I loved how the story progressed and how Dessen built up to the big revelation. Some of the aspects that I really enjoyed in this book were Annabel's relationship with her sisters, and especially how Kirsten and Whitney's rocky relationship developed. I grew to appreciate Annabel as a character when I learned what happened to her and how well this fit her thoughts and actions. And I loved how Owen helped Annabel become more open and stand up for herself.
It was a good story. And fourteen-year-old Judith would have read it about 5,000 times. But... I've read many books since I was fourteen, and this book fell flat compared to many of them. I couldn't help but think "Well, this is nothing I haven't read before." Don't let my review keep you from reading this book (if you haven't already). It was an enjoyable read and a solid story, when I compared it to for example My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick, My Life Next Door got to me more than Just Listen did.
I will definitely continue reading Dessen's books, if only because they're the type of books I adore when I'm in a reading slump or in the need for a swoon-worthy story. I trust that her writing is consistent and her books won't disappoint. I just wish I read this one five or six years ago.
To be honest, I had never heard of Sarah Dessen before I started this blog. But since I have been blogging, I've been hearing nothing but wonderful things about her books. Apparently everyone had read and loved them but me. (And Cassie.) So when I came across two of her books in my library, I had to take them with me to see for myself. And because I never say no to a swoony romance. I know that this book has been released ages ago (2006!) but I still wanted to let you know what I thought, since Sarah Dessen seems to be such a phenonemon and I just want to talk to you about it.
The first thing I thought when I was finished was: well, fourteen-year-old me would have LOVED this book. Because when I was fourteen, I went through a phase where I only read contemporary romances where girls looked stunning and fought with their friends and met cute boys that changed everything. Girls who were models and movie stars and lived in huge houses and had everything they ever wanted. Yes, I was that superficial, and no, this book was definitely not that superficial. But it did remind me a lot of the books I read back then and I think I would have appreciated it more if I read it back then, too. Because though I really enjoyed reading it, it was also a bit disappointing compared to what I was expecting.
My disappointment had nothing to do with the writing, or the characters, or the plot even. Dessen's writing has a steady pacing and changes from present to past at perfect times. The characters were likeable, and though a bit flat at first, they all grew on me and became more understandable throughout the story. I loved how the story progressed and how Dessen built up to the big revelation. Some of the aspects that I really enjoyed in this book were Annabel's relationship with her sisters, and especially how Kirsten and Whitney's rocky relationship developed. I grew to appreciate Annabel as a character when I learned what happened to her and how well this fit her thoughts and actions. And I loved how Owen helped Annabel become more open and stand up for herself.
It was a good story. And fourteen-year-old Judith would have read it about 5,000 times. But... I've read many books since I was fourteen, and this book fell flat compared to many of them. I couldn't help but think "Well, this is nothing I haven't read before." Don't let my review keep you from reading this book (if you haven't already). It was an enjoyable read and a solid story, when I compared it to for example My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick, My Life Next Door got to me more than Just Listen did.
I will definitely continue reading Dessen's books, if only because they're the type of books I adore when I'm in a reading slump or in the need for a swoon-worthy story. I trust that her writing is consistent and her books won't disappoint. I just wish I read this one five or six years ago.
challenging
emotional
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
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
This is a comfort read!! Annabelle and Owen forever 💕