Just Listen

i think this book was an amazing read short and sweet type. romance is in the air after the populars drop her its like all she can do but sit back and listen to all the drama that goes on around her.

I'll admit The Truth About Forever was the first Sarah Dessen book I ever read, but Just Listen was the book that made me want to read the others.

I borrowed Just Listen from my friend knowing I had one week to finish it. At first I thought I would never finish it, there were just too many excuses to find: I had school work, chores, sleep, dance practice, etc. But, that night I picked it up and that was a mistake.

Sometimes you find those books that are worth missing sleep over. You know, the kind where you read two pages and YOU KNOW you'll be spending the night with your book. I finished that book around two or three am, and then told my friend I wasn't done the next day, and reread it.

Just Listen will always remain one of my favorites. I don't want to give anything away, because that's how I went into it, and I think that's why I enjoyed it so much. I didn't have a clue what was going to happen, because I didn't even read the back. I just read it.

I highly recommend this to Sarah Dessen fans, or just anybody who wants to read a good book that will have you remembering it years later. Be warned, though, you will cry and laugh at random moments, so maybe don't read it in too public places.

This is a beautiful book about family, and living with the past! It's touching really. Sarah Dessen never fails to bring me to tears!

i really loved this book and i think everyone should read it

Reader reviewed by Amanda Wade

"Don't think, don't judge, just listen"  I loved that quote from the book and it's something that I wish more people would do. In 'Just Listen' Annabel was almost raped at a party she went to and her own friend Sophie didn't even try to listen to what had happened. The whole year Annabel just went through the whole year at school with all the rumors and everyone ignoring her or talking about her. She didn't say anything. I can also get that, I get why she didn't say anything not even to her family. Because she was scared, it's not an easy thing to say. And because there was all those things happening with her sisters. And she was sure that no one would actually listen.
Then she met Owen, who always told the truth. He wouldn't say things just to be mean or just to say them but if you asked him, he would tell you the truth. I really liked Owen. The way he just told the truth without hiding anything, just the whole truth and nothing but the truth, even if he didn't really want to all the time was refreshing for me.
In the book there was another thing that stuck with me. It was after Owen asked how Annabel's family could tell when something was wrong with her and she had thought 'They can't'. That for me really stuck with me too because that's the same for me sometimes. Sometimes no one can tell if you have a problem, even if they're you're family.
All in all I really loved the this book.

Reader reviewed by Amanda!

Just Listen, another famous book by the one and only Sarah Dessen. My favorite author, or excuse me, one of my favorite authors. A book about one's teen troubles. How the main character is shoved out of the popular line, and pushed aside to the nobody's. How her family doesn't have it all perfect. She's a model, she hides behind a smile. Who doesn't? She meets Owen, the music obesser. (I always pictured owen to be fat with tattoos, don't judge me.) After reading this book I couldn't help but think about it for weeks, it was just glued to my brain. It's a good eye opener, as I've said in my other reviews. It's fictional, but it's also non-fiction. It's real-life experiences. This stuff happens everyday, just nobody has put it down on paper or made a huge deal out of it. You should really read this book, and others by Sarah Dessen. (:

Reader reviewed by Sarima89

Reader reviewed by Anna

There are only some books out there that can keep me reading long into the night. Just Listen was definitely one of those books. After reading the first couple of chapters, i could not put the book down. I took it EVERYWHERE I went. It is a very captivating book, and it makes you feel like you are in Annabel Green's shoes. I guarantee if you like those teen love stories, which I LOVE, this is the perfect book for you.

Reader reviewed by Amber


Out of all the books I have read by Sarah Dessen this one is my favorite. The reason why I like it so much you ask well...... Sarah created this character that had this really complicated life (sister with an eating disorder, friend problems so on and so forth) and the book was about how she unraveled all of this and in the end she was happy and had finally found exactly where she is supposed to be.



I also really liked how the title ties into the story directly as in one of the lines that came up frequently was "Don't think don't judge just listen". Which is really what the story is about Annabell trying to get people to just listen to what she has to say. Definitely a must read for fans of Dessen and even those who aren't.

Reader reviewed by Kelsey

After being seen with her best friend's, Sophie, boyfriend things go down the drain for Annabell. She spends her Junior year in a mist of lonesomeness, until she meets Owen, who teaches her the real meaning of things and befriends her. In this love and romance book, you yourself can learn the real meaning of things. I loved this book and you will too! Recommended for 8th and up.