Author: Sarah Dessen
Genre: Young adult/teen fiction, romance
Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Publication Date: May 10, 2011
Synopsis: Who is the real McLean.Since her parents’ bitter divorce, McLean and her dad, a restaurant consultant, have been on the move-four towns in two years. Estranged from her mother and her mother’s new family, McLean has followed her dad in leaving the unhappy past behind. And each new place gives her a chance to try out a new persona: from cheerleader to drama diva. But now, for the first time, McLean discovers a desire to stay in one place and just be herself, whoever that is. Perhaps Dave, the guy next door, can help her find out. Read more...
Review: Before all the Sarah Dessen fans start hating on me, I just want to be clear: I am one of you… I just didn’t like this one.
I have been a fan of Sarah Dessen’s novels for years and have always anticipated and anxiously waited for the next one to be published. When I found out about What Happened to Goodbye I was so excited. It seemed like it would be such a nice summery read. I especially loved the idea - that McLean created a new persona every time she moved. Honestly, after a bad day of school, who didn’t imagine picking up and starting a new life where no one knew your past? I know I sure did. Unfortunately though, I did not enjoy this novel as much as I anticipated.
I admit to loving the concept of the novel, but I never felt that it was utilized fully in the novel. I would have liked to see who McLean had planned to become after this last move, or seen less stereotypical personas that she had adopted in the past. I also had a problem with McLean as a character. I have loved Dessen’s characters in the past, and have always felt that they were real and relatable. This time though, I did not feel any connection with McLean and did not real care if she worked out her issues, got together with the guy, or lived ‘happily ever after’. In addition to not enjoying McLean, I felt that Dave was not up to Dessen’s usual extraordinary boy standards. I felt that they were both somewhat bland and lacking dimension.
Sarah Dessen’s novels always follow a certain outline, and have a central ‘issue’ that the main character is dealing with. In What Happen to Goodbye, I would probably identify the ‘issue’ as Maclean dealing (or not dealing) with her parents divorce. Correct me if I am wrong, but is this not almost the exact same ‘issue’ that Auden dealt with in Along for the Ride? In addition to this ‘issue’ feeling like a repeat, I also felt that it wasn’t that big of a deal. I am not saying a parent’s betrayal or the disintegration of a family unit is not something that is insignificant, but compared to Dessen’s previous novels, I felt that this was on the lower scale of hardships. Dessen’s had her characters deal with parental death, sexual assault, partner violence and abandonment in the past. In comparison, I felt that this ‘issue’ was lacking.
In conclusion, I did not really like this book and it was not what I expected from Sarah Dessen. Maybe I have gotten too old for her teen oriented novels, but either way, I felt that both the plot and characters were lacking in Dessen’s latest novel.
What you might enjoy, instead: Any other Sarah Dessen novel, particularly The Truth about Forever or Just Listen
My Rating: 2.0/5.0
Publication Date: May 10, 2011
Synopsis: Who is the real McLean.Since her parents’ bitter divorce, McLean and her dad, a restaurant consultant, have been on the move-four towns in two years. Estranged from her mother and her mother’s new family, McLean has followed her dad in leaving the unhappy past behind. And each new place gives her a chance to try out a new persona: from cheerleader to drama diva. But now, for the first time, McLean discovers a desire to stay in one place and just be herself, whoever that is. Perhaps Dave, the guy next door, can help her find out. Read more...
Review: Before all the Sarah Dessen fans start hating on me, I just want to be clear: I am one of you… I just didn’t like this one.
I have been a fan of Sarah Dessen’s novels for years and have always anticipated and anxiously waited for the next one to be published. When I found out about What Happened to Goodbye I was so excited. It seemed like it would be such a nice summery read. I especially loved the idea - that McLean created a new persona every time she moved. Honestly, after a bad day of school, who didn’t imagine picking up and starting a new life where no one knew your past? I know I sure did. Unfortunately though, I did not enjoy this novel as much as I anticipated.
I admit to loving the concept of the novel, but I never felt that it was utilized fully in the novel. I would have liked to see who McLean had planned to become after this last move, or seen less stereotypical personas that she had adopted in the past. I also had a problem with McLean as a character. I have loved Dessen’s characters in the past, and have always felt that they were real and relatable. This time though, I did not feel any connection with McLean and did not real care if she worked out her issues, got together with the guy, or lived ‘happily ever after’. In addition to not enjoying McLean, I felt that Dave was not up to Dessen’s usual extraordinary boy standards. I felt that they were both somewhat bland and lacking dimension.
Sarah Dessen’s novels always follow a certain outline, and have a central ‘issue’ that the main character is dealing with. In What Happen to Goodbye, I would probably identify the ‘issue’ as Maclean dealing (or not dealing) with her parents divorce. Correct me if I am wrong, but is this not almost the exact same ‘issue’ that Auden dealt with in Along for the Ride? In addition to this ‘issue’ feeling like a repeat, I also felt that it wasn’t that big of a deal. I am not saying a parent’s betrayal or the disintegration of a family unit is not something that is insignificant, but compared to Dessen’s previous novels, I felt that this was on the lower scale of hardships. Dessen’s had her characters deal with parental death, sexual assault, partner violence and abandonment in the past. In comparison, I felt that this ‘issue’ was lacking.
In conclusion, I did not really like this book and it was not what I expected from Sarah Dessen. Maybe I have gotten too old for her teen oriented novels, but either way, I felt that both the plot and characters were lacking in Dessen’s latest novel.
What you might enjoy, instead: Any other Sarah Dessen novel, particularly The Truth about Forever or Just Listen
My Rating: 2.0/5.0
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