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chrisstinef 's review for:
Once and for All
by Sarah Dessen
More accurately a 4.5/5
This was definitely not my favorite Sarah Dessen book but it also wasn't my least favorite (not sure I actually have one). I read a few negative reviews and let me just say this: if you went into this book excepting something revolutionary then you're going to be disappointed. Sarah Dessen has a formula and, at least to me, that's not a bad thing! Her stories are light and fluffy (save for Dreamland and this one); are easy reads; and are absolutely cheesy. But that's what I like about them! Now onto the actual book. I've marked the below as a spoiler just in case!
My main issue with the book was one person: Ambrose. I found him incredibly annoying and could not see what Louna liked about him. Their romance was slow burning, yes, but it also came out of nowhere. It was obvious that he and Louna would end up together, but I didn't see that as a negative. I greatly identified with Louna and found myself agreeing with her every action, so when she ended up with Ambrose it left me confused. I was definitely still hung up on Ethan while reading this story. Their love, of course, was cheesy and that once-in-a-lifetime kind of love. Ultimately, I think Ambrose character was such a contrast to Ethan's for a reason: you can never have the same love twice.
That's it. That's my only complaint about the book because I knew what to expect from a Sarah Dessen book. If this was your first introduction to her writing, don't let it keep you from reading her other works! The Truth About Forever (TTAF) is my favorite of hers and is a definite must read. Also, a character from TTAF shows up in Once and For All (OAFA) and it left me giddy.
This was definitely not my favorite Sarah Dessen book but it also wasn't my least favorite (not sure I actually have one). I read a few negative reviews and let me just say this: if you went into this book excepting something revolutionary then you're going to be disappointed. Sarah Dessen has a formula and, at least to me, that's not a bad thing! Her stories are light and fluffy (save for Dreamland and this one); are easy reads; and are absolutely cheesy. But that's what I like about them! Now onto the actual book. I've marked the below as a spoiler just in case!
Spoiler
My main issue with the book was one person: Ambrose. I found him incredibly annoying and could not see what Louna liked about him. Their romance was slow burning, yes, but it also came out of nowhere. It was obvious that he and Louna would end up together, but I didn't see that as a negative. I greatly identified with Louna and found myself agreeing with her every action, so when she ended up with Ambrose it left me confused. I was definitely still hung up on Ethan while reading this story. Their love, of course, was cheesy and that once-in-a-lifetime kind of love. Ultimately, I think Ambrose character was such a contrast to Ethan's for a reason: you can never have the same love twice.
That's it. That's my only complaint about the book because I knew what to expect from a Sarah Dessen book. If this was your first introduction to her writing, don't let it keep you from reading her other works! The Truth About Forever (TTAF) is my favorite of hers and is a definite must read. Also, a character from TTAF shows up in Once and For All (OAFA) and it left me giddy.