Review Wednesday: Once and For All by Sarah Dessen

Title: Once and For All

Author: Sarah Dessen
1st Date of Publication: June 6, 2017

ISBN: 358

# of Pages: 9780425290330

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary

Age Rating: 13

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Book Description:  As bubbly as champagne and delectable as wedding cake, Once and for All, Sarah Dessen's thirteenth novel, is set in the world of wedding planning, where crises are routine.

Louna, daughter of famed wedding planner Natalie Barrett, has seen every sort of wedding: on the beach, at historic mansions, in fancy hotels and clubs. Perhaps that's why she's cynical about happily-ever-after endings, especially since her own first love ended tragically. When Louna meets charming, happy-go-lucky serial dater Ambrose, she holds him at arm's length. But Ambrose isn't about to be discouraged, now that he's met the one girl he really wants.

Setting: Colby in 21st century

Point of View: 1st Person- Louna Barrett

Goodreads Rating: 3.85

My Rating: 4.0

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both

View on the Cover: It looks like someone is catching a bouquet of flowers that a bride has thrown. Who is catching the bouquet.
View on Title: What has happened "Once and For All?" Is it good or bad?

Pros:

• Louna's character seems to become more complicated as the novel progresses. When the  novel starts, Louna doesn't believe in love but she felt love once but lost it soon after. It doesn't help that she works for her mother's business, Natalie Barrett's Weddings. Her mother had her heart broken by Louna's father a few years after marriage so Natalie's skepticism feeds to Louna's own skepticism.
• Some of the names are really unique, such as Louna and Ambrose's. Louna's name, a combination of Louis (Louna's father) and Natalie, shows how deeply her parents loved each other once upon a time.
• The summer is wedding season after all so it was a bit refreshing to read while people are getting married. Sometimes you can get annoyed by all the happiness and bliss of it all. The novel had a different view of weddings, which seems pessimistic but it shows the ugly reality of weddings and what goes into planning them.
• Another issue this novel presents is the growing problem of school shootings, which is happening very frequently.
• I love the story about Louna and Ethan. It felt very natural and exciting.

Cons:

• I had very little issues with this novel. It is probably one of Sarah Dessen's best novels. I just wish the pace was a little better. It felt very uneven in a way like a bumpy road. It felt like once an issue was solved another would arise almost immediately after.

Critics' Reviews:
"Dessen’s expertise at creating a character faced with change is once again on display in this book that reminds readers that love is measured ‘not in minutes but in moments.’” —VOYA
"Romance, humor, kindhearted characters, and a touch of painful reality make this another sure bet for Dessen fans." —Kirkus Review
"There is no question that this title will be popular with Dessen fans and romance lovers." —School Library Journal

Sarah Dessen's Website:

http://sarahdessen.com/

Other Recommendations:

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen
The Siren by Kiera Cass
The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay