Review Detail

Reader reviewed by The Library Lurker

I'm just going to start by telling you that this is a reread. Yes, I've
read it before. "Then why are you reviewing it?" you may ask. Well, when
I read it last it was at least three years ago, so consequently I
remembered next to nothing about it. Is it weird that I'm happy about
that? Because I am, I'm really really happy that I could read this book
again like I was reading it for the first time.



I love Sarah Dessen. She is one of my favorite authors, and now this is
one of my favorite books by her, next to This Lullaby. The way she
writes is just spectacular. One passage in particular stood out to me:

               

            We Just sat there for a second, none of us talking. In
the middle of the clearing, someone was playing with a flashlight, the
beam moving across the tree overhead, showing bits and pieces of
branches and leaves, a glimpse her and there, then darkness again. I
knew that in the last few minutes everything had changed. I'd tried to
hold myself apart, showing only what I wanted, doling out bits and
pieces of who I was. But that only works for so long. Eventually, even
the smallest fragments can't help but make a whole.



When I read it I just thought that it was beautiful. The imagery
especially. I could never write something like that, something so
perfect. Which is why her books blow mind mind. They not only have a
good story, but good writing to match, something that's hard to find.



Anyway, on to this story in particular. Macy was a good protagonist. At
times I wanted to smack some sense in to her, or her mother, but that's
just part of the experience. Wes was...wow. What do I say about Wes?
Basically he's everything that you could ever want in a guy. Ever.
Smart, nice, caring, an artist, sa-woon worthy. What more is there to
ask for? All of the other characters were awesome too, and so three
dimensional. All of them had TONS of personality and they weren't just
there doing nothing. That's another thing that I like about Sarah Dessen
books.



The story line was, of course, great. Macy's dad died about a year and a
half before the book starts. She and her mother really haven't gotten
over it, just pushed it aside and only focused on work and school.
Macy's "perfect" boyfriend Jason is going away to Brain Camp for the
summer and Macy takes over his job at the library. Just another boring
summer. Until she meets the workers of Wish Catering and Jason breaks up
with her because she's getting too attached. Then her summer's not so
boring anymore, and she learns a lot about herself along the way.



Basically this book was spectacular. I'm happy that I read it again.