Monday, March 12, 2012

The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen

The Truth About Forever 
Sarah Dessen
Released: May 2004
Pages: 374 (paperback(
Publisher: Speak
Source: Own
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 wonder, Is it really better to be safe than sorry?
"What would you do, if you could do anything?"1

Out of all of Dessen's novels to date, my copy of The Truth about Forever is the one bearing the marks of a well-loved book that has been reread time and time again. Macy begins the story as the girl-who-tries-to-be-perfect, a coping mechanism after Macy loses her father. Yet, as the story goes on and Macy becomes closer to the Wish Catering crew, that perfect façade fades. In its place, Macy begins to shine as a lively girl with a great personality that has to come to terms with her life, who she is, and what she wants. 

Each character is alive: Delia, a chaotic, kind, pregnant mother who's in charge of the crew; artistic and modest Wes; apocalypse-obsessed Bert; fashionable and straight-forward Kristy; monotone Monica; and finally Macy as the newest addition. The more time you spend flipping through the pages, the more you grow to love them all and the subtle knowledge they impart onto Macy as she breaks through her shell. One chaotic catering crew, one broken family needing repair, one girl's chance to find happiness, one shot at love, and only one summer to figure it all out in The Truth about Forever

Highlights: Dessen excels when it comes to writing realistic characters and situations - there's a sense of honesty to her characters. The games "Truth" and "Gotcha" provided some of my favorite moments of the novel. And Wes2 was, of course, the best. Honestly, I could go on for days about why this novel is amazing. If you haven't read it, check it out. It's worth it. 

Lowlights: There's no sequel? Glimpses of these characters in other Dessen books is not enough for me!

Allusions: Lorna the weather girl from That Summer; the lovely beach town of Colby & a reference to Last Chance café from Keeping the Moon; and likely more that I forgot to jot down. 

Rating: 

1 pg. 370 - This scene gets me every time. *sighs happily*
2 The boy that originated the term "swoonworthy". *swoons*

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13 comments:

  1. This is definitely one of my favourite Sarah Dessen books but really I love them all!

    I especially love the references to her previous books, I love spotting them :)

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  2. eepp this sounds so good, I havent heard of this book but I will definitely add this on my list, amazing review! x

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  3. I loved this one too. My favorite is Just Listen and this would probably be my second favorite or at least tied with What Happened to Goodbye. I need to reread it sometime.

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  4. I'm fairly certain this is my all-time favourite Dessen! I'm so glad you loved it, too! :) Great review, Lea!

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  5. I'm so glad you loved this one because it has been siting on my shelves for quite some time now and now I'm sure I'll read it soon .. I read This ullaby by Sarah Dessen last year but didn't like it so I'm really hoping I'll enjoy The Truth About Forever !! Wes sounds amazing from what I've heard so I look forward to meet him as well !! Thanks for the fabulous review Lea :)

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  6. I am intrigued. Have to add this one to my list.

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  7. Wes! Goodness, I adore that boy. This is probably my fave Sarah Dessen, too, mostly because I identify way too much with Macy. :) Wonderful review!

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  8. I recently reread this book because it's my favorite Dessen book ever! Haha, Wes totally originated the term swoonworthy. That boy is really something. I'm glad you keep on rereading this book! It's definitely amazing enough. Fabulous review, Lea! :)

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  9. Wait, these characters pop up in other novels?!? Which ones?!

    I love The Truth About Forever. It's definitely one of my favorites and it all has to do with The Wish Catering crew, Wes, and Macy. So funny and real. Gosh, I totally agree with you!

    Asher

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  10. I think I read this two years ago and out of all of Sarah Dessen's books I read (3) its my favourite. It was also my first Sarah Dessen book so I didn't know that there would be mention of people and places from her previous books. But if I do reread it, I will have to make note of it too.

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  11. I keep hoping she'll tell the story of some of her secondary characters, like a lot of romance novelists do. You get so invested and I do love a good HEA!

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  12. Yay! I'm so glad you liked this. I wasn't sure whether I would be a Dessen fan so this was my first book of hers...but definitely not my last. :)

    Wendy @ The Midnight Garden

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  13. This is my second favorite Dessen novel (after This Lullaby) and it is so beloved in my house (my sister stole my copy!) Everything about this book is so perfect!

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