Have you read a Sarah Dessen book lately? I personally love her books and one of my favorites is The Truth About Forever and I know I’m not alone in saying that!
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I want to share with you, the review I posted waaaaay back in February 2013 … the first time I read The Truth About Forever, but first… The details!
The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen (Website, Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads)Also by this author: Saint Anything, Saint Anything, Once and for All
Published by Penguin on April 6th 2006
Genres: Art, Contemporary, Death & Dying, Romance, Social Themes, Young Adult Fiction
Pages: 400
Format: Paperback
A long, hot summer...
That's what Macy has to look forward to while her boyfriend, Jason, is away at Brain Camp. Days will be spent at a boring job in the library, evenings will be filled with vocabulary drills for the SATs, and spare time will be passed with her mother, the two of them sharing a silent grief at the traumatic loss of Macy's father.
But sometimes, unexpected things can happen—things such as the catering job at Wish, with its fun-loving, chaotic crew. Or her sister's project of renovating the neglected beach house, awakening long-buried memories. Things such as meeting Wes, a boy with a past, a taste for Truth-telling, and an amazing artistic talent, the kind of boy who could turn any girl's world upside down. As Macy ventures out of her shell, she begins to question her sheltered life.
Is it really always better to be safe than sorry?
Jaime’s 2013 Thoughts
I haven’t read a lot of Sarah Dessen books and this one has been on my to read list for a while so I dove in and let me say… I really really enjoyed it!
I think what I really gathered from reading this book, my second Dessen novel, is that Dessen can give you a book that has a plot and theme that might sound like a million other stories, but make it a compelling story and provide you with some great characters.
Macy has nothing to look forward to this summer… her boyfriend, Jason, is going to be away at ‘brain camp’ and she’ll be getting ready for her senior year by studying for SAT’s and taking over at the library information desk for Jason.
Macy, for the last year and a half has been struggling with the overwhelming grief for the loss of her father. And in an effort to make things as easy as possible at home strives for perfection at both school and home. Her mother is overwhelmed and stressed with taking over the family business and is oblivious to what is really going on in Macy’s world.
When the unexpected happens a few week after Jason leaves, Macy throws herself into a fun new job working for a catering company. It’s here where she meets the people who will turn her summer around. From Kristy and Bert to Monica and Delia they all help her realize that perfection isn’t necessary.
You have to have a little bit of disorganization now and then. Otherwise, you’ll never really enjoy it when things go right.
BUT… I didn’t mention Wes yet. Wes is the resident misunderstood, bad boy type… who also works at the catering company, and he and Macy end up bonding over shared history as well as a game of Truth. I really loved the evolution of their friendship… being able to see it grow into something more and the way he was there for her to lean on when she needed was wonderful.
I will say that the reason I gave it 4.5 instead of 5 is because I wanted more more more …. I think I went in expecting a bit more romance and swoon between the two. Don’t get me wrong there are quite a few moments between them, but not the stuff I really wanted LOL.
What I enjoyed most about this story was that it wasn’t over done if that makes sense. Often times I notice when authors are really trying to get you to feel the sadness they lay the drama on thick, but Dessen doesn’t do that here, and still she managed to make me feel what Macy was… the heartbreak, the awkwardness, the sadness, the loneliness and yes… the happiness. It was all there for me.
Ultimately this book is about grief and how everyone deals with it, but there are also some smaller lessons here too… learning to trust people and stepping outside your comfort zone to get to know yourself. If you’re a fan of contemporary YA definitely check out The Truth About Forever. I think it’s made it’s way onto my favorites list!
For the record – I still feel this way about this book and it’s still among my favorites of hers, so if you haven’t read a Sarah Dessen book- why not start here!!
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