Review: What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen
Title: What Happened to Goodbye
Hardcover, 416 pages
Author: Sarah Dessen
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication Date: May 10, 2011
Source: Borrowed
Buy: Amazon
Book Summary:
Another town. Another school. Another Mclean. Ever since her parents’ bitter divorce, Mclean and her father have been fleeing their unhappy past. And Mclean’s become a pro at reinventing herself with each move. But in Lakeview, Mclean finds herself putting down roots and making friends—in part, thanks to Dave, the most real person Mclean’s ever met. Dave just may be falling in love with her, but can he see the person she really is? Does Mclean herself know?
Review:
Sarah Dessen is an automatic read for me. If I’ve had a drought of bad books (or a bad week in general), I’ll pick up a Sarah Dessen book. Needless to say when I saw What Happened to Goodbye I needed and wanted to read it.
What Happened to Goodbye is different from the other Dessen books I’ve read in that it deals more with family than a relationship. All of the other Dessen’s that I’ve taken the time to read have a good mix of family problems and boy/girl issues – and while What Happened to Goodbye had both, it was definitely more weighted towards the family, which I found myself enjoying.
Mclean is a very real, interesting character (and I don’t expect any less from Sarah Dessen). The side characters are also all lovable in their own ways – her dad with his difficult job of revamping restaurants (definitely not a job I would want) in particular. I also really liked the basketball subplot, and how basketball in particular took each of the characters and wove them together.
Fans of Sarah Dessen have yet another book to look forward to from this talented contemporary young adult author.
Buy: Amazon
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Twitter: marielamba
Thanks for the great review, and the reminder that this book is now on the store shelves. Guess what I’m going to do today?
I and my two daughters are in love with Dessen’s novels, we re-read them often, and we’ve been waiting for a new novel from her for a while. My personal favorites are This Lullaby and Just Listen. As an author myself, I really admire the way she weaves the real in a literary way with a twist of romance.
My only problem will be fighting off my daughters for who gets a crack at this book first!
Marie
Marie Lamba recently posted..Book Review- The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
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I liked that What Happened to Goodbye focused more on family–it was a breath of fresh air in a Dessen book. Glad to hear you enjoyed the book, too! =)
Lauren recently posted..My Not-so-Still Life by Liz Gallagher
Twitter: hmz1505
I agree with what you’ve said here. I posted my review today too
Thanks for joining in on Sarah Dessen Week!
Can you believe I have never read a Sarah Dessen book! I will have to sometime!
Did you get my email about getting the book you sent? THANKS so much!
wall-to-wall books-wendy recently posted..Speed Reviewing
Twitter: ReadingWifeJac
I’m afraid because family is the focus and not so much a boy I’m not going to like this as much as I’ve liked others, but of course I’ll read it!
Thanks for participating! And I linked for you!
Jacinda @ The Reading Housewives recently posted..Sarah Dessen Week Day 3- Review- Dreamland by Sarah Dessen
Yay thank you
I loved this one too. I agree, this one focused a lot more on family and I loved that!
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