categories : Review
Title: The Truth About Forever
Author: Sarah Dessen
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Penguin Group – Speak
Source: Purchased
Parental Warning: none
“The words kept coming, almost too fast, tumbling over my tongue like they’d been held back for so long that now, finally free, nothing could stop them. Not even me.”
Summary:
Macy use to have it all, a great and loving family, a wonderful boyfriend and overall happiness. Then one day, it all started to change. Her father passes away, her boyfriend leaves for a summer long trip to camp, and she is forced to settle in to her feelings of discontent and loneliness. Given the circumstances, the relationship she has with her mother is strained at best causing her to look for not only a social outlet but emotional support.
Enter a brand new job with a local catering company complete with an eclectic group of employees to interact with, one of which is an enthralling and magnetic boy named Wes. Much to her mother’s chagrin she befriends them all and begins to make changes in her life deemed inappropriate.
Macy’s struggle to maintain her new friendships, find a balance between love and friendship, and rebuild her relationship with her mother all come together to shine a light on the strength within.
Opinion:
This was my first Sarah Dessen and I wasn’t disappointed by it.
I particularly enjoyed how all of the characters were so intricately woven together. Integrated in a way that didn’t shift the story from the over all focus on Macy and her life each still played an important and influential role in her growth. Further, the diversity of characters made the story much more fun for me. None felt cliched or over wrought allowing for an enjoyable way to bop back and forth between some of the heavier aspects of the story to something lighthearted and entertaining.
Central to the story was the theme of relationship building. Macy as the center point in all of the differing relationships as they were forged, rebuilt, or shifted was both expected and not in the least disappointing. It gave clarity to the story and depth of emotion.
Speaking of emotion, the budding romance between Macy and Wes was lovely. The focus on their friendship from the start as it built into more was realistically portrayed. A fun and somewhat tumultuous ride they were quite rootable as a potential couple.
All in all this was an enjoyable book. One that I would recommend to readers who like a good mix of emotion and lightheartedness.
Jan@eatingyabooks:
I enjoyed this book and I have bought a couple of Dessen’s other book because my students like reading her too. I also felt the same way you did about the realistic nature of Macy and Wes’s relationship.
January 23, 2010 at 4:44 pm Jan@eatingyabooks(Quote)
Caitie:
Looks great – it is on my to-read list, but I think I iwll go request it at the library now!
January 23, 2010 at 5:09 pm Caitie(Quote)
Kathy:
I keep reading good things about Dessen’s work and this one certainly sounds good. She sounds like an author I need to try!
January 23, 2010 at 5:27 pm Kathy(Quote)
Maureen:
I’m about to read this–seriously, the next book on my shelf. It’s not my first Sarah Dessen, but I’m glad to hear you enjoyed it!
Whenever I see a teen walk by with a Dessen book under their arm, I immediately chirp, “Have you ever read Elizabeth Scott or Deb Caletti?” They go together in my head–something about the thoughtful girls and realistic romances. So, have you?
January 23, 2010 at 11:10 pm Maureen(Quote)
Melissa (Book Nut):
I didn’t realize that I was in a Sarah Dessen mood until I read your post. Off to check this one out! (Also: curious to know what you think of her other books… when you get around to them, of course.
January 24, 2010 at 4:51 pm Melissa (Book Nut)(Quote)
Alita:
I haven’t read any Dessen yet, but am hoping to read this one later this year. Great review
January 24, 2010 at 10:12 pm Alita(Quote)
Maureen:
Update: Read and enjoyed this! Wes was great–a very low-key kind of romance, not sa-woon at first sight but an organically developing relationship. Kristy was the kind of excellent friend that I decided she needed from the start, although I wish we could have seen more of why she insisted that Monica was so deep and sensitive.
Though I have to to say, as a public librarian, the thing that irked me a little was the portrayal of Macy’s job at the library. I’ve never been in a library that was a) that dead during the summer and b) allowed teens to work at the information desk. I retconned that it was a very boring special library that specialized in Swiss goat-cheese-making techniques and made myself forget about it because the rest was so good.
January 26, 2010 at 9:17 pm Maureen(Quote)
Debbie:
I keep hearing such good things about Dessen and I actually have this book in my TRB pile. I really need to get to it.
January 26, 2010 at 10:04 pm Debbie(Quote)
Jennifer:
I bought this book a while ago and it has just been sitting on my shelf begging to be read. I’ve actually already loaned it out to friends and family members several times and they all really enjoyed it. But I have still yet to read it. I need to get on that.
February 10, 2010 at 11:59 pm Jennifer(Quote)