Friday, October 19, 2018

Once and for All by Sarah Dessen

Narrated by Karissa Vacker
Synopsis (via Goodreads): As bubbly as champagne and delectable as wedding cake, Once and for All, Sarah Dessen's thirteenth novel, is set in the world of wedding planning, where crises are routine. 

Louna, daughter of famed wedding planner Natalie Barrett, has seen every sort of wedding: on the beach, at historic mansions, in fancy hotels and clubs. Perhaps that's why she's cynical about happily-ever-after endings, especially since her own first love ended tragically. When Louna meets charming, happy-go-lucky serial dater Ambrose, she holds him at arm's length. But Ambrose isn't about to be discouraged, now that he's met the one girl he really wants. 

Sarah Dessen’s many, many fans will adore her latest, a richly satisfying, enormously entertaining story that has everything—humor, romance, and an ending both happy and imperfect, just like life itself.
“The dead aren't the only ones who vanish: you, too, can disappear in plain sight if enough is taken from you. I was still missing, in many ways. And I wasn't sure I wanted to be found.”
When I was a teenager, I was obsessed with Dessen books. Just Listen is one of my favorites, and I also really enjoyed The Truth About Forever. It's been awhile since I've read one of her books, but it felt like something was missing from Once and for All. I didn't love or hate Louna, and I thought she was extremely hard to relate to.

Louna has suffered a great loss, and the experience has tainted her outlook on love and relationships. She can't talk to another guy, or go on a date without comparing them to her first epic encounter. What happened to Louna is truly terrible, and I can understand the devastating impact it had, but I also thought she fell too hard too fast. It was definitely an insta-love situation, but then it grew into something more. However, I was a little annoyed when they confessed their love for each other after a few short hours.

I understand that some teenagers fall in love hard and fast, though it felt unlikely that Louna would have committed herself so deeply and so quickly. I wish they had developed their attraction over time, but instead it keeps the same intensity from their first meeting. There were more confessions of love, the boyfriend and girlfriend labels were applied, and they consumed each other's lives. It felt like the author took something sweet and romantic and turned it into something frenzied and all-encompasing. 

I immediately liked Ambrose and his unique way of viewing the world. "I just can't light a candle without making a wish and blowing it out. It's some kind of birthday neurosis." His outlook on life was always positive, even when he found himself in awkward or stressful situations. Ambrose is someone that enjoys living in the moment, and wants to help others whenever he can. I fell in love with him a little when he met Ira. He has a huge heart that is bursting with compassion.

I also enjoyed the various weddings, and how different they could be!

Louna had a really amazing best friend, and I wish their friendship had been more of a focus. They occasionally go out together, but there were usually other guys involved (or a lot of siblings). I wish there had been more one-on-one time for the two. This was their last summer together before college, and they chose to spend it with strangers. It didn't feel right.

In the end, Once and for All didn't meet my expectations for a Dessen book. I had trouble relating to Louna, which left me feeling disconnected from the story. Honestly, I kind of hated her at the end. She was being ridiculous and obstinate, which was incredibly frustrating. Additionally, it felt like there was something missing from the overall experience. The story lacked a certain oomph

I was listening to an audiobook, so I apologize if the quote isn't exactly right.


12 comments:

  1. I received it from the french publisher when they published it and I really enjoyed it. They're translting nother one from her and they'll send me a copy so I'm curious

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    1. I'm so happy they translated the book and that you enjoyed it! I love that more and more books are being reprinted in other languages. There are so many wonderful stories to share! One of my favorite authors actually writes in German, and it's usually a little while before they translate her books to English.

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  2. Hopefully you'll thoroughly enjoy your next read.

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    1. Fingers crossed! I've read a lot of Dessen in the past, so I think I went into this one with high expectations.

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  3. This was my first Dessen book and I'm sorry to say I wasn't blown away. I thought Louna's previous relationship was just too much, too fast. I did like all the wedding stuff, though.

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    1. You should really try Just Listen! I'm not sure how I would feel about it now, but I loved it as a teenager. They met on a beach and had a wonderful night, but then they took too many additional steps that really smothered my feelings. I wish they had just walked and talked, kept in touch afterwards, and maybe met once more before *that* happened. Their relationship would have felt more natural and progressed at a slower rate.

      I also enjoyed all the wedding stuff! It sounds like a brutal yet rewarding job.

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  4. I just can’t get into Sarah Dessen’s books. I’ve tried a few and they just don’t do it for me.

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    1. Maybe I've outgrown them? I don't read as much YA as I used to, but I remember really enjoying her books when I was in high school. I'm trying to decide if I should re-read the books I liked to see if I still feel the same way about them.

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  5. This book captured my heart. Loved Ambrose and the weddings, but when I found out the full story about what happened to Louna's boyfriend, my heart broke in half, and it gave me a better understanding of her pain. First love, first loss, family, and friends, this book had so many wonderful elements for me. Sorry it didn't work for you.

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    1. I'm really happy you enjoyed it! I thought there were some really sweet moments, and I enjoyed her relationships with her mom and William, but I didn't like the way she treated Ambrose. She held everyone at arm's length (for understandable reasons), but I also thought she was a little cruel. Ambrose only wanted to help and understand Louna, but she refused to let him. Then the nonsense with Ben and how he was treated. She knew she had feelings for Ambrose and refused to admit them until she thought it was too late.

      What happened to Ethan was horrible, and it made me sad once I realized how she had lost him. I enjoyed how their relationship developed over time, but wish they'd saved their confessions of love for later. Maybe get to know each other a little more first? Like I said before, I wish he'd been able to visit her once after the wedding before things got more serious.

      I wish things had been presented a little differently, but that's just a personal preference. I think Sarah Dessen writes really important, relevant books for teens, and I'm happy stories like this exist in the world. Again, I'm glad you liked it! <3

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  6. I have a few Dessen books but I don't think I've read this one yet. It sounds like a quintessential Dessen book, for sure.

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    1. I think there are still one or two of her books that I haven't read! I believe I own them, so I should get to them eventually. :)

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“Stuff and nonsense. Nonsense and stuff and much of a muchness and nonsense all over again. We are all mad here, don't you know?”
― Marissa Meyer, Heartless