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A review by writervid
That Summer by Sarah Dessen
2.0
2.25/5
I'm very ready to get into Sarah Dessen this summer. I know people say not to start with her first book, but I did, and now I'm here. I think most people's complaints with this book stem from a dislike of the characters and the sense that nothing is happening. And maybe I'm in the minority here, because I liked Haven plenty--I found her internal monologue and feeling relatable, even if she was unlikeable at times--and I got the sense that stuff was happening in Haven's mind that make it almost a coming of age novel. But the issue with this book for me was that too little was happening presently. I felt what was happening in Haven's head, and even in Ashley's. But the consequences of those feelings weren't fully realized because the feelings and their causes weren't fully brought to the surface, and therefore, neither were the messages and the nuances in them.
I'm still headed down the Dessen catalogue of books. Saint Anything is next!
I'm very ready to get into Sarah Dessen this summer. I know people say not to start with her first book, but I did, and now I'm here. I think most people's complaints with this book stem from a dislike of the characters and the sense that nothing is happening. And maybe I'm in the minority here, because I liked Haven plenty--I found her internal monologue and feeling relatable, even if she was unlikeable at times--and I got the sense that stuff was happening in Haven's mind that make it almost a coming of age novel. But the issue with this book for me was that too little was happening presently. I felt what was happening in Haven's head, and even in Ashley's. But the consequences of those feelings weren't fully realized because the feelings and their causes weren't fully brought to the surface, and therefore, neither were the messages and the nuances in them.
I'm still headed down the Dessen catalogue of books. Saint Anything is next!