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Review: The moon and more by Sarah Dessen


Luke is the perfect boyfriend: handsome, kind, fun. He and Emaline have been together all through high school in Colby, the beach town where they both grew up. But now, in the summer before college, Emaline wonders if perfect is good enough.

Enter Theo, a super-ambitious outsider, a New Yorker assisting on a documentary film about a reclusive local artist. Theo's sophisticated, exciting, and, best of all, he thinks Emaline is much too smart for Colby.

Emaline's mostly-absentee father, too, thinks Emaline should have a bigger life, and he's convinced that an Ivy League education is the only route to realizing her potential. Emaline is attracted to the bright future that Theo and her father promise. But she also clings to the deep roots of her loving mother, stepfather, and sisters. Can she ignore the pull of the happily familiar world of Colby?

Emaline wants the moon and more, but how can she balance where she comes from with where she's going?

Sarah Dessen's devoted fans will welcome this story of romance, yearning, and, finally, empowerment. It could only happen in the summer.


My Thoughts
I was so excited to receive this for review in the post not long back and picked it up straight away expecting to devour it in one greedy sitting as I seem to have done with every other Sarah Dessen I have read but alas it did not happen.

For me I felt that this book was a bit samey as the rest if the Colby series - female teen protagonist, a few gorgeous boys, things don't run quite smooth, bit of moping, bit of happy, a bit of aren't drama along the way. Don't get me wrong I did happily read it and even enjoy it but I wasn't desperate to finish it neither did I need to know what happened next. It could be me as I'm struggling to find the time to read at the moment so whenever something comes along that isn't compelling I get a bit grumpy at it for holding up my reading speed. It could also be that maybe I had too high expectations for it. Nevertheless I must admit I wasn't wowed by this book which is a shame because I was so looking forward to it.

Certainly one to hunt down if you are a Sarah Dessen fan or a nice read for your summer holidays as it's set on the beach and has nice summer vibe but certainly not my favourite Sarah Dessen. 

Comments

Anya said…
Bit of a shame you didn't like this. I haven't read any Sarah Dessen, but I have Just Listen on my shelves - she sounds a like a great teen author, must be disappointing to find one of hers that's a bit wubbish
Unknown said…
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Awesome post. Awesome story. Keep saving the world one trash bag at a time! XD
Ok, so I also need to catch up on The infernal Devices series, since that is the book you posted...lol
I had pretty similar feelings as you about this one. I am always happy to get a new Sarah Dessen but this one didn't really do it for me like This Lullaby and The Truth About Forever did.