Review: Once and for All

Once and for All by Sarah Dessen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE BOOK:

YAAAAY!!! This book has made me embrace reading again. Thank you, Sarah Dessen! I’ve had some shockers recently. The writing style was back up to what I enjoy in YA.

CHARACTERS/DYNAMICS:

Louna: Louna is relatable and quick on her feet. I enjoyed her wit and her thought process for things. I felt her embarrassment, he confusion, and her teen-i-ness.

Ambrose: people hated this guy?? I adored him. He’s a goof. I wouldn’t pin him as he identifies himself, some PLAYERRR, he’s more like Andy from Parks and Rec.

PLOT:

Louna’s mum is a wedding planner. Louna and Ambrose meet for Amrbrose’s sister’s wedding. He ends up working for the wedding planning company. About half way through, Louna and Ambrose make a bet: they must switch dating lives. Louna must date 3x per week (at least) while Ambrose should try to stick with one girl for 7 weeks.

Lo and behold; they fall for each other.

It’s corny and cute and I loved it.

THEMES:

– SCHOOL SHOOTINGS???
– weddings
– teen dating
– new adulthood

THE ENDING:

I thought I was going to be left heart broken, but the final pages saved me. THANK GOD! That’s the catch with Dessen’s books: they’re always stand-alones, so when the couple aren’t HEA by the final 10 pages— I panic.

IMPACT:

This book has reignited my love for reading! But not for fantasy (gasp!). Time to give romantic contemporaries a go.