ashwhit2024 's review for:

Once and for All by Sarah Dessen

4.0

dark emotional lighthearted sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Every time I read a book by Sarah Dessen, I want to cry. She always knows how to tackle a tough topic and this time, reading about grief and school shootings was hard.

The fact that this topic is so prominent in our nation is hard to believe at times but reading a book from the perspective of a girl who lost someone she cared for greatly is a great way to view the topic. Sarah is able to write Louna’s grief and recovery was well written. I also enjoyed reading Ambrose and Louna’s relationship turn from not really liking one another, to becoming friends, and finally landing on falling for one another. It was a fresh take on the enemies to lovers troupe. Also the ending, where she thought she had lost Ambrose from a car accident and seeing Louna having to grieve all over again before finding out that he’s okay was hard to swallow.