Last Review of 2009: The Truth About Forever

Title: The Truth About Forever
Author: Sarah Dessen
Genre: Young Adult, Fiction
Pub Date: May 2004, Penguin Group (USA)
Hardcover, 374 pages
Book Source: purchased from Booksamillion.com

Synopsis

I long dull summer stretches ahead of Macy 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 her father.


But sometimes unexpected things can happen--things like 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 like 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 wonder if it really is better to be safe than sorry.

My Thoughts

I actually didn't think I would be able to squeak this review in before the New Year. That was before I really started getting into this book, though--before I couldn't put it down this afternoon.


The Truth About Forever is now officially my favorite book by Sarah Dessen that I have read so far. (I can even add it to my failed Sarah Dessen Challenge... Still 4 books shy of finishing that one.) I had heard many great things about this particular book and I can understand why. Dessen really has a talent for writing gripping, seemingly real-life YA fiction. There are always intriguing characters that have so many facets to their personalities--and you can be sure that there is more to them than meets the eye. Macy undergoes quite a transformation from a girl who is essentially living in her "perfect" boyfriend's shadow, to someone who finally takes chances and dares to live her life the way she wants to. I can honestly say it was sort of exciting to watch her change and grow--one of the reasons I enjoyed this book so much. Wes is definitely one of the many-faceted characters in this story, and through his game of Truth with Macy we learn more and more about him as the story progresses.


The Truth About Forever is a story about many things: death and grieving, love, friendship, and family (and often how all of those intermingle). I do sometimes find myself frustrated with the way that Dessent portrays some of the family interactions, but I have a feeling that is because I never experienced the same things in my own youth with my parents and have a hard time imagining events unfolding the way they do at times.

If you enjoy Dessen's books, I can't imagine that you wouldn't enjoy this one. With The Truth About Forever, she has come a long way from her first book, but it is still classic Sarah Dessen.

My rating:



Other reviews of The Truth About Forever:

Dear Author ~ Out of the Blue Book Reviews ~ Book Addiction

Just Listen Book Reviews ~ Harmony Book Reviews

Em's Bookshelf ~ For the Love of Books ~ Books I Done Read

Books Lists Life ~ Miss Erin ~ Leafing Through Life
What Vanessa Reads ~ Hope's Bookshelf ~ The Story Siren
Everyday Reading ~ Becky's Book Reviews
So Many Books, So Little Time

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