A review by bitsandbobsdivination
Once and for All by Sarah Dessen

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I’ve been trying to read this book and finish it ‘once and for all’ for yearssss, but the beginning always got me in how slow it is and how deeply I didn’t care about these random character’s weddings… but, that all being said, listening to the audiobook it hit differently while I was paper making. I had time to truly get immersed in the story not stumble through it. It was refreshing since I’d tried so many time to read it!

I’m glad I did read/listen to it when I did though, because I think it wouldn’t have hit as deeply or I wouldn’t have been able to connect to the deep loss she felt as empathetically when I first tried to read it. 

The scene with her and the school shooting waiting for news on her phone to hear from him was heartbreaking. With so many mass shooting here in America happening more days a year than not, I feel almost numb to it all. I know this is horrible to say, but it is also the only way for me to process or to protect myself from the fear and grief of it all. When reading this book it reminded me just how deeply I do work so hard to escape from it all,  not just shootings, but Covid, the pandemic, hate crimes, queerphobia, etc. I still vote, I still speak up, try to make changes happen, but I’m also constantly having to be numb to even talk about it sometimes or I just get so frustrated, upset, scared, worried, and grief stricken. So many innocent lives… this book has reminded me in ways I think I needed even if that means I have to feel it.

Beautiful book, and one that maybe wasn’t perfect, but did leave a mark on me. Would recommend. ✨