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chloecs 's review for:
The Moon and More
by Sarah Dessen
[3.5]
I am back to write this review. Upon looking at my list of the 6 (really 8, but 2 need a re-read) Dessen books I've read and my rankings, this one and Once and For all are really competing, but what it comes down to why this is a 3.5 and not a 4, is the romance.
The more books I read of Ms. Dessen's, I'm reframing my expectations of what the "romance" of the story will be. I did not pull for Luke or Theo, and it honestly reminded me of my current (first watch, season 4) distaste for Jess in GG, and tbh Dean is so much like Luke. Also, I just had to remind myself that Luke doesn't get married in here.. or does he? (also pls no GG spoilers, stop right there, I know I have a lot to go through). Not only did I not root for Theo, but it was only weighted that I didn't when it felt like Emaline was completely NOT into the relationship the whole time.
One thing I did adore about this book were the Colby references. Being a book post-Along for the Ride's success, it is heavily apparent how Dessen set this up to please her readers and their obsession what AftR. There were also good profound moments per usual like the 2AM friend (unless that was a different one of her books..) [UPDATE: looked it up and that was definitely what happened to goodbye lmao] and being in a dating/hanging out relationship.
I think Dessen almost did a perfect job with the parental conflict in this one, though it made me 100% confident she had some sort of daddy issues herself after so many reads with girls who have major ones themselves. It takes one to know one... or write one well. I struggled to really feel the deep connection and "roots" as the synopsis says to her stepsisters when I feel like we didn't get too much of the interior monologue of her love for them when they were constantly bickering and at each other. Also, let's point out how FREAKING confusing the father/dad thing was in the beginning, and honestly, I KNOW I'm usually confused at the beginning of her books, but it took me a few rereads of a few pages to piece together that her mom was her biological mom and all the other pieces and how they fit together.
I would definitely recommend this for someone looking for a beach read or a AftR mega-fan, but not necessarily someone looking for the cutest romance of their life.
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will write this soon.
I am back to write this review. Upon looking at my list of the 6 (really 8, but 2 need a re-read) Dessen books I've read and my rankings, this one and Once and For all are really competing, but what it comes down to why this is a 3.5 and not a 4, is the romance.
The more books I read of Ms. Dessen's, I'm reframing my expectations of what the "romance" of the story will be. I did not pull for Luke or Theo, and it honestly reminded me of my current (first watch, season 4) distaste for Jess in GG, and tbh Dean is so much like Luke. Also, I just had to remind myself that Luke doesn't get married in here.. or does he? (also pls no GG spoilers, stop right there, I know I have a lot to go through). Not only did I not root for Theo, but it was only weighted that I didn't when it felt like Emaline was completely NOT into the relationship the whole time.
One thing I did adore about this book were the Colby references. Being a book post-Along for the Ride's success, it is heavily apparent how Dessen set this up to please her readers and their obsession what AftR. There were also good profound moments per usual like the 2AM friend (unless that was a different one of her books..) [UPDATE: looked it up and that was definitely what happened to goodbye lmao] and being in a dating/hanging out relationship.
I think Dessen almost did a perfect job with the parental conflict in this one, though it made me 100% confident she had some sort of daddy issues herself after so many reads with girls who have major ones themselves. It takes one to know one... or write one well. I struggled to really feel the deep connection and "roots" as the synopsis says to her stepsisters when I feel like we didn't get too much of the interior monologue of her love for them when they were constantly bickering and at each other. Also, let's point out how FREAKING confusing the father/dad thing was in the beginning, and honestly, I KNOW I'm usually confused at the beginning of her books, but it took me a few rereads of a few pages to piece together that her mom was her biological mom and all the other pieces and how they fit together.
I would definitely recommend this for someone looking for a beach read or a AftR mega-fan, but not necessarily someone looking for the cutest romance of their life.
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will write this soon.