I am still captivated by the way she expertly weaves strings of words together in a way that not only is utterly enchanting, but also incites emotion in the reader. I am still in love with Sarah Dessen’s writing. I started this book of hers with such high expectations but sadly, they were dashed. By the time I’d finished that book, she was automatically catapulted to the top of my list of favorite authors. The very first book I read by Sarah Dessen was Dreamland. Harsh, I know, but true, and what is a proper Goodreads review without honesty? Perhaps she is an abider of the mantra 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'? I don't see where she has had much growth as an author through the years.

That being said, I must admit that once I realized this was her first novel, I had to admit to myself that it was exactly the same as the other books I've read by her. While nothing especially thrilling happened in the novel, it was more about the emotional journey.Īs a side note, I have read several of Sarah Dessen's novels and plan to continue to read them whenever I need a good, quick pick-me-up, so I clearly have an appreciation for her. It was beautiful to watch her, her mom, and her sister learning to get along and show love to each other. The novel spans a summer in the life of a girl learning to love herself in her own skin and emotionally deal with the turmoil surrounding her. I didn't realize this was her very first novel until after I'd finished it, actually.

That Summer by Sarah Dessen