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meaghunt 's review for:
Once and for All
by Sarah Dessen
You know what you're signing up for with a Sarah Dessen book, and this one does not disappoint. But as I've grown along with Dessen (she in her writing career, me from tween to adult), I've grown to notice some strange quirks about her writing. In this book particularly, there are a number of scenes, character actions, and lines of dialog that read like something out of a movie more than something that actually happened. Her style makes for a very... theatrical read. So if you're into that kind of thing, it's the highest-quality example on the teen fiction market.
That said, I'm beginning to grow weary of that. I once had an interesting conversation with Matt de la Pena (yes, I'm name-dropping him, and yes, I've heard of the unfortunate #metoo accusations, but I found him to be pleasant)-- and I told him that I hope to write someday as well as Dessen. But that I want more GRIT in my fiction. And that's the truth. Dessen's characters lead lives that are very polished and fun to read. But they don't exactly feel real, and that's what this book is desperately missing: realness.
That said, I'm beginning to grow weary of that. I once had an interesting conversation with Matt de la Pena (yes, I'm name-dropping him, and yes, I've heard of the unfortunate #metoo accusations, but I found him to be pleasant)-- and I told him that I hope to write someday as well as Dessen. But that I want more GRIT in my fiction. And that's the truth. Dessen's characters lead lives that are very polished and fun to read. But they don't exactly feel real, and that's what this book is desperately missing: realness.