Review: The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen

Title: The Truth About Forever
Author: Sarah Dessen
Publication Date: June 2012 (first published May 2004)
Publisher: Speak
Goodreads


 Expect the unexpected.

Macy's got her whole summer carefully planned.

But her plants didn't include a job at Wish Catering. And they certainly didn't include Wes.

But Macy soon discovers that the things you expect least are sometimes the things you need most.

There is never a time or place for true love. It happens accidentally, in a heartbeat, in a single flashing, throbbing moment.

Macy is perfect. She has perfect hair, perfect grades, perfect boyfriend – perfect everything. Maybe her mother works too much, but of course they’re fine, just fine. Her boyfriend, Jason, may seem detached sometimes, but of course they’re fine. It has been one and a half year after her father’s sudden death, and Macy is doing well. She’s fine just fine, thank you.

Is she really?

The Truth About Forever is a book about characters dealing with the sudden death of a loved one, but it is more than that. It is a book about reaching out, accepting mistakes, and following your heart. The Truth About Forever celebrates flaws, and with its lovely storyline, three-dimensional characters, and just the right amount of drama, it’s hard not to love this book.

Truth be told, I think Sarah Dessen follows the same pattern in her stories. Girl having problem – girl meets boy – girl becomes friends with boy – girl runs away – girl having reflection moment – girl confesses to the boy – happily ever after. I might sound a bit snarky here, but really. I love her works. She is a wordsmith and the word she spins turns into gold. Moreover, her characters are so alive I could practically hear their breathing when I was reading her books. I don’t have any problem getting along with any character in this book. The pacing near the ending of the book seems a bit too slow for me, but maybe it’s just me who can’t wait to see Macy and Wes together. The ending is really worth the wait, though. *insert dreamy sigh* Reaching the lovely ending, I feel so rewarded having suffered through all the Macy-Wes misunderstandings.

This is the only YA book I’ve ever read that features characters working in catering business. I like that they’re constantly faced with shrimp chaos or meatball crisis – it gives the story a certain charm. My only complaint about this book might be the slow pacing near the ending and the fact that I was able to predict the story halfway through the ending. But if you’re a fan of Contemporary, or in search of a book with light theme and gorgeous writing to spend your time, The Truth About Forever will be a perfect choice.

We just sat there for a second, none of us talking. In the middle of the clearing, someone was playing with a flashlight, the beam moving across the trees overhead, showing bits and pieces of branches and leaves, a glimpse here and there, then darkness again. I knew that in the last few minutes everything had changed. I'd tried to hold myself apart, showing only what I wanted, doling out bits and pieces of who I was. But that only works for so long. Eventually, even the smallest fragments can't help but make a whole.

4 cups of tea!

Perfect for light reading. ♥