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The Story of Us

by Deb Caletti (Goodreads Author)

3.6 of 5 stars 3.60 · rating details · 2,101 ratings · 263 reviews

Cricket’s on a self-imposed break from her longtime boyfriend—but she’s picked a bad week to sort out her love life. For one thing, her mother’s romance is taking center stage: After jilting two previous fiancés, her mom is finally marrying Dan Jax, whom Cricket loves. But as wedding attendees arrive for a week of festivities at a guesthouse whose hippie owners have a swee...more

Hardcover, 389 pages

Published April 24th 2012 by Simon Pulse

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My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

2012 YA Contemporaries

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Jul 09, 2012 Ash rated it 3 of 5 stars

Sometimes you encounter a book that you just don't know what you think about it. For me, this is one of those books. On the one hand I can understand Cricket because I am notoriously bad at making decisions. I mean seriously, I even have a hard time choosing a flavor of ice cream. But then, I don't know. For some reason I couldn't really click with this one.

Quick Overview: Cricket’s got a lot to think about. She’s on a “break” from her longtime and pretty much perfect boyfriend, Janssen, because...more Sometimes you encounter a book that you just don't know what you think about it. For me, this is one of those books. On the one hand I can understand Cricket because I am notoriously bad at making decisions. I mean seriously, I even have a hard time choosing a flavor of ice cream. But then, I don't know. For some reason I couldn't really click with this one.

Quick Overview: Cricket’s got a lot to think about. She’s on a “break” from her longtime and pretty much perfect boyfriend, Janssen, because of something really stupid that she did. Now she doesn’t know what’s going to happen with them. Let’s not forget that college decisions are looming closer and her mother is getting married. Even though she’s happy for her mother (and she will do everything possible for her mother not to flake out on this engagement, like she did the others) everything is changing and Cricket doesn’t feel ready for it.

I could understand Cricket and her having a hard time with change and making decision, but I think what kept from really getting into it was that nothing really seemed to be going anywhere. Cricket doesn’t really try to figure out what to do. She just sort of goes around in circles about it and then puts it off. It doesn’t help that you don’t know the “horrible” thing she did, so it’s hard to get what’s going on. I also didn’t really like the whole e-mailing thing between her and Janssen. You never see any of the messages from Janssen, so you know him all through the memories and information that Cricket gives you. I know it’s supposed to be a “show, don’t tell” sort of thing, but I didn’t feel like Janssen really existed as a person, just as a character. It had the exact opposite effect. And I have to bring up the dog list thing going on between them. Don’t get me wrong I love dogs, but the metaphoric list thing just didn’t have a purpose after a while. Also, I don’t know how she did it, but somehow she has Cricket make a decision…without actually making a decision, and I just don’t understand how it makes sense.

Deb Caletti is a great writer (although sometimes a bit wordy) and I really liked Stay and The Secret Life of Prince Charming. I loved how I could understand the characters even though I had no idea what they were going through. For some reason though, she couldn’t do that for me in this book. I liked the relationship Cricket had with her family and her dog Jupiter. Dogs really are so much more important than we give them credit for, and they are usually neglected in books. Caletti is also pretty awesome at creating an authentic setting and atmosphere.

So, this is 3.5 for me. I still can’t pinpoint the specific reason I didn’t love this book. Maybe it’s just the fact that going around the mental merry go round of indecision isn’t very interesting when it’s in someone else’s head. I can see someone else really falling in love with this book, but it was just missing something for me.
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Aug 15, 2012 Zemira Warner marked it as will-finish-later

Shelves: contemporary, romance, teen

I think there will be lots of drama in this book. Sounds good to me.

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Apr 28, 2012 rameau rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: i-wants-it-bad, ya, realistic, read-in-2012, recommending, this-is-how-it-s-done

This isn't an objective presentation of facts. This is a tangled mess of my emotions and Caletti's beautiful story, which will stay with me for a long time.

It's a good thing then that a review is by definition an opinion, isn't it.

Caletti writes some of the best realistic young adult fiction I've ever read. Full stop. Her focus isn't on the romance--which undoubtably will disappoint some--but on those very real moments of growing up. Of figuring out who you are and who is your family. Who do yo...more

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Dec 27, 2012 Kate rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, young-adult

The biggest problem with this book was that it wasn't one story so much as a series of vignettes. Everything that was important was told to us and chopped up by the letters, the biggest cause of the choppiness. So much of what Cricket was engaged in was stuff we never got to see. Jannsen was a HUGE part of this book, and yet we saw him for five seconds and Cricket's letters to him felt like 90% facts about dogs. It was disappointing, and so was her deal with Ash. For all her judginess about Gavi...more

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Dec 31, 2012 Sarah added it

I had to skim through a lot of the dog stuff because I just can't handle it. My older dog is in great health, but is in double digits age-wise,so I've become even more sensitive to stories involving aging pets. About 90 pages in I had to set this down and hug my Saoirse Dog for a good ten minutes. I will say that unlike the vast majority of YA novels that include a pet, this is in no way manipulative nor a plot device to simply illicit an emotional reaction. It's real and very sensitively handle...more

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May 18, 2012 Andreia Silva rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: e-book, inglês, leituras-de-2012, 5-estrelas-2012

Acho que se compreende facilmente pela quantidade de quotes que o livro tem (e muitas mais que não registei) que adorei o livro! Aliás, depois de dois livros da autora, sou completamente fã. São histórias que nos ajudam a olhar para o amanhã e a ter esperança, sabem? Que nos mostra que o happily ever after não tem que acontecer para um final feliz. Esta é uma história de descoberta. Descoberta do verdadeiro eu e da verdadeira felicidade. Afinal o que é ser feliz para sempre?

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Dec 05, 2012 Karen (Book Light Graveyard) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Deb Caletti. I don’t know how she does it, but it’s like she can read my mind. I swear, she knows exactly how I feel, and then takes all those jumbled, mixed-up emotions, sorts them out, and turns them into something insightful and beautiful. And that’s what I always come away with from Caletti’s books—insight. Insight into my own life and into life in general. Her books are wonderful that way.

I actually didn’t know the plot of The Story of Us before I started reading it. I’m at that point wher...more Deb Caletti. I don’t know how she does it, but it’s like she can read my mind. I swear, she knows exactly how I feel, and then takes all those jumbled, mixed-up emotions, sorts them out, and turns them into something insightful and beautiful. And that’s what I always come away with from Caletti’s books—insight. Insight into my own life and into life in general. Her books are wonderful that way.

I actually didn’t know the plot of The Story of Us before I started reading it. I’m at that point where I pick up Caletti’s books without needing to know what they’re about. And she came through this time too. I think The Story of Us is her best book so far. It has this perfect blend of humor and serious issues, love and conflict, permanence and change. It’s just an all-around solid book.

And you know what surprised me about this book? That it wasn’t a swoony falling-in-love story but I liked it even more because of it. Romance is pretty much a requirement in a book if I’m going to like it, and there is romance in this story—it’s just not that butterflies-in-the-stomach, first love kind of romance. After all, Cricket and Janssen have been together for years, and Janssen isn’t even in the book except for one page at the end. It’s a deeper and more subtle romance as Cricket tries to sort out what she wants out of their relationship and out of the future. And can I just say, JANSSEN. That boy. He doesn’t even have to be in the story for more than the one page he is for it to be obvious that he’s everything that’s kind and good. Seriously, I’ll take him if Cricket doesn’t. And that hottie Ash isn’t too shabby either.

And I loved Cricket’s family. They’re funny and quirky without taking it too far and becoming caricatures. They feel real, and as I read along I felt more and more like I was part of their family—that I really knew them. How does that even happen? Talented authors, that’s how, I guess.

Overall, a solid contemporary YA. It’s a little on the slower and more reflective side, but I never felt like the story dragged at all. If you’ve read any of Caletti’s books before, you won’t be disappointed, and if you haven’t read them, I think this is a good place to start.

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Sep 12, 2012 Bookaholiclover rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Story of Us

First off, I think I didn't finish this book as fast as I thought I would. I mean like once you get in the middle part it gets more and more interesting, which made me want to read it more and more rather than before.

Another, all of Deb Caletti's books is just a must read, I haven't found one that I haven't finished yet at all, I mean I'm also the type of person who doesn't want to read a book when it gets like really boring that I just fall asleep.

Summary:
Cricket has a long weeke...more

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Aug 29, 2012 Nic rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: made-me-cry

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I have read Sarah Dessen. And you, miss, are no Sarah Dessen.

The fact that Deb Caletti is often listed as a read-alike author for Sarah Dessen is basically the reason I picked this up. I did like the premise, too: Cricket's mom has jilted two previous husbands-to-be, both jerks, and now that she's about to marry a really good guy, Dan, Cricket is nervous that running away might have become a habit. Her family, the guy's family, and their respective dogs are spending a week (or so - I'm not sure...more

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Aug 22, 2012 Jeanbooknerd rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviews

Many of us go through many obstacles within in our lives. But for Cricket, those obstacles seem to have come together in a bundle in the span of several weeks. Deb Caletti’s The Story of Us tells the rapidly-changing life of Cricket. She is a newly graduate of high school on the verge of moving out, while her mother prepare to being remarried. Cricket has always relied on her mother and brother for their undying support that she hopes for their happiness and that her mother will go through the w...more

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Aug 12, 2012 Donna rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, reality, family-issues, young-adult

I loved Deb Caletti's The Nature of Jade, but I didn't connect with this book as much. I enjoyed the story, but I must admit I got a little bored with it during the second half. Cricket is the main character, and she and her boyfriend of several years, Janssen, are sort of "taking a break." Her mother, who has a history of leaving men right before marrying them, is getting married again. The family goes to a beach house for the week leading up to the wedding, and Cricket corresponds with Janssen...more

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Jul 18, 2012 BAYA Librarian rated it 4 of 5 stars

Cricket's world is changing forever, and she doesn't know how much change she can handle. First, there was graduation and college applications, and then her mother's upcoming remarriage and the relocation of her family – mother Daisy, brother Ben and their dog Jupiter – to Seattle, away from their rural existence that she has known and loved for years. And away from Janssen, the only boy she has ever loved. Maybe it's time to say goodbye and all these changes are for the best; but change is scar...more Cricket's world is changing forever, and she doesn't know how much change she can handle. First, there was graduation and college applications, and then her mother's upcoming remarriage and the relocation of her family – mother Daisy, brother Ben and their dog Jupiter – to Seattle, away from their rural existence that she has known and loved for years. And away from Janssen, the only boy she has ever loved. Maybe it's time to say goodbye and all these changes are for the best; but change is scary, and making life-altering decisions is even worse. But the worst thing is watching her mother go through the motions of the impending wedding, but not believing that she'll go through with it...and fearing that Daisy will leave Dan Jax – the first great guy in Daisy's life – at the altar. There are plenty of opportunities for mom to escape...and reasons to do so, like Dan's spoiled and unwelcoming daughters, a pot-smoking inn keeper and enough mishaps and closeted skeletons to make anyone flee.

The narrative is interwoven with emails to Cricket's (ex?)boyfriend Janssen, in which she responds to Janssen's suggestion that writing out her feelings may help her select a life path. Cricket tells Janssen their own story, the story they lived together: how she and her family appeared at the old house after leaving her angry father, how Ben and Janssen became best friends, and how Janssen and Cricket eventually fell in love. They also exchange lists about their favorite subject: dogs; how dogs bring joy and sorrow, and what people can learn from them about constancy, patience, and acceptance. Further complicating matters for Cricket is the presence of a sexy and sensitive guy, plus the unwanted advances of one of her best friends, and the appearance of a new love interest for Janssen.

Although a love story at first glance, this book deals with family issues: the challenges of abuse and divorce, blended and multigenerational families, the uncertainty grown children face when leaving home for the first time, and the child-less future their parents face. The author deftly illustrates the wind-swept beachfront inn housing the wedding party and compares the luminous window panes of the facade to a display case, revealing the innermost feelings of the inhabitants. The lists about dogs are really part of the overall discussion of human relationships, and they enable Cricket and Janssen to look deeper into their own feelings. Cricket makes insightful remarks about the power of words spoken and unspoken, love, loss, and change.

Although there is some drug use, drinking, and mature language, it is used moderately and enhances the character and plot development. Appealing and satisfying, The Story of Us made this reader an instant Caletti fan, and this title is recommended for all teens.

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Jun 10, 2012 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars

I'll start by saying that I love Deb Caletti. I've read all of her books, and I love her style. It's cheesy, it's hokey, it's folksy, but it's also genuine and earnest. Her books aren't really romances, so if that's what you're looking for, look elsewhere. They're about young women who are trying to discover and accept themselves - so of course boys often figure in to that struggle, but it also involves family, friends, school, neighbors, and just the girls by their plain ol' selves. And that is...more I'll start by saying that I love Deb Caletti. I've read all of her books, and I love her style. It's cheesy, it's hokey, it's folksy, but it's also genuine and earnest. Her books aren't really romances, so if that's what you're looking for, look elsewhere. They're about young women who are trying to discover and accept themselves - so of course boys often figure in to that struggle, but it also involves family, friends, school, neighbors, and just the girls by their plain ol' selves. And that is really refreshing in today's YA lit.

I really liked this one. My favorite part of it was when Cricket was talking about being really conflicted about going away to school, because it was so honest and resonated so fully with me. I grew up in Minnesota and I go to school in Massachusetts, and Caletti got it so right when she described Cricket's feelings. A lot of books have kids going to school being really excited and eager to leave forever and never look back, but that's not what my experience was. Instead, mine was exactly like Cricket's: we love our families, we know that we'll miss them terribly, we don't want to give up on spending time with them, we're scared to be so far away, we're nervous about leaving, and we miss our homes. That is something that is rarely explored in YA lit, and I so appreciated that Caletti had Cricket deal with those issues realistically and in a way that felt very familiar and honest.

That said, Cricket is one of my least favorite Caletti heroines. She just seemed really judgmental, and no one called her out on it. Cricket would complain about a certain type of girl who dressed a certain way or people who drink or people who like to sleep and watch TV and act like she was so superior. She just seemed really critical, and that annoyed me. That's mostly why I took off the star - I like that Cricket didn't drink and dressed casually and liked to be active, but that doesn't mean that girls who drink or dress up or like to watch TV are vapid or bitchy or wrong. Cricket was also kind of insensitive towards Dan's kids, Amy and Hailey, and the only time someone called her out on it was when her mother explained that they were just less mature than Cricket. Were they being immature? Probably. But it can a be a difficult thing as a teenager to deal with divorce and remarriage, and I think it's really bratty to act superior and tell those kids they should just grow up and accept their new families with smiles on their faces. We all deal with things differently, and how we deal with our own families is our own business. So Cricket annoyed me on that front, too. My only other complaint is that the letters to Janssen could be a little on the long side and could probably be edited down.

My favorite Caletti book is still Honey, Baby, Sweetheart, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one, and if you like Caletti you probably will too.(less)

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May 28, 2012 Snowy rated it 3 of 5 stars

I do not usually review, as I am not sure anyone truly would wish to listen to my advice on books. That being said, I will start. My beliefs on books are they need to have three key elements to make them legendary: an interesting plot, connectable characters, and most importantly amazing writing. Although these three ideas seem simplistic to writing a book, they are not and most authors fail to address enough for the book to be considered a classic. Usually in the books I read the good writing d...more I do not usually review, as I am not sure anyone truly would wish to listen to my advice on books. That being said, I will start. My beliefs on books are they need to have three key elements to make them legendary: an interesting plot, connectable characters, and most importantly amazing writing. Although these three ideas seem simplistic to writing a book, they are not and most authors fail to address enough for the book to be considered a classic. Usually in the books I read the good writing department is what fails.

In this Caletti book, the writing was evocative and dense- an idea that might be unappealing to many. I am a fan of convoluted poetic prose so Caletti's writing appealed to me. The flow, which I feel is very important for a reader to continue reading, was there. No reader, even the ones who hate her work can miss it. The premise of the story also appeals to me due to its ambiguity. What is a story? What do we leave behind- what is our legacy? What are the connections among the three- among the infinities in the world. This ambiguity and the flow truly captures the feel I like in a book. That being said this book is convoluted and quite serious. Although there are many comedic episodes with her dog, Jupiter, it overall is a more emotion felt read than a plot based. There is not a thrill that will keep you up at 3 AM in the night under the covers necessarily. It is a slow book that develops the main characters quite well. Her mother and her and her dog are the principal characters that are developed. I almost could imagine myself in that situation- a connection to the girl and playing with her beagle. Her ex and her brother are somewhat developed and all the other characters fall in a line after that falling to a one-dimensional status. The girl, albiet being somewhat forgettable, as I could imagine her as an average girl can connect to me. I can imagine being friends with her.

What actually was truly the hardest part of this novel is the ending. After the slowness of that particular week she focuses on, the rest of the world goes by in three pages. Almost as if she couldn't find an ending, so she needed to summarize in a few pages. I do not want to indicate spoilers, thus I will refrain from discussing my views about the ending. Yet the disproportionate amount of time she DID not spend on the ending truly caused the book to not be as good as I would have expected it to be.

Yet I feel that the last paragraph (I am a sucker for reading last paragraphs over and over to see the best of the work for the author) is truly showing the gifts of such an evocative author.

Thus, I finish. (less)

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May 16, 2012 Jazmyn Swan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: chicklit, realistic-ya, ya, luvthefamily

This is the second book I've read written by Deb Caletti. The first book, The Secret Life of Prince Charming, turned me into somewhat a maniacal fan of Deb. I can say that I enjoyed The Story of Us immensely, I prefer The Secret Life of Prince Charming.
Deb Caletti's prose is beautiful and the characters she creates are not easy to forget. The Story of Us is about Cricket (only a nick name, thank the lord) and the impending doom of a drama filled week of family members, soon to be evil step steps...more

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May 02, 2012 Jennifer Monzon rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012

The Story of Us is about a girl named Cricket and we follow the story in her point of view as she encounters many changes in her life all in the course of one week. She has graduated high school and is going to college in the fall. She’s moving from her childhood home, due to her mother’s 4th engagement to a man named Dan, and they are getting married in one week. She’s also leaving behind her longtime boyfriend, who she doesn’t want to break up with but really has no choice.

I must admit as soo...more

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May 01, 2012 Jason rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: hate-and-other-four-letter-words

Ugh, this book is terrible. The characters aside from the protagonist barely have one dimension, let alone more. She alternates being emo and mopey, and boringly annoying, while maintaining an aura of artificiality as a character. The book felt like a professional author didn’t write it. There is zero atmosphere-building. The chapters with her letters to her luv were inserted awkwardly and while it was a way to show her relationship with him, it helped slow down the pace of the book even more by...more Ugh, this book is terrible. The characters aside from the protagonist barely have one dimension, let alone more. She alternates being emo and mopey, and boringly annoying, while maintaining an aura of artificiality as a character. The book felt like a professional author didn’t write it. There is zero atmosphere-building. The chapters with her letters to her luv were inserted awkwardly and while it was a way to show her relationship with him, it helped slow down the pace of the book even more by being really boring. Oh, and it provides an excuse for the author to tell not show, but she does that in the rest of the book too so obviously she doesn’t need the excuse.

I barely got myself to care about anything that happened, and then it was mostly rolling my eyes at the mundane absurdity of supposed plot twists that felt like the author just picked things to happen out of a grab bag. I have lower standards for world-building for non-genre fare, since generally such books happen in places that don’t need a ton of explanation, but the book was so insular it felt like a play. Basically other characters didn’t exist unless they were in the house or in the past. I blame Sarah Dessen for being awesome and making me think that randomly picking up another standard-sounding book by a YA “realistic fiction” author would make lightning strike again. Oh, and the prose is really nothing special, at all.

Notes While Reading:
(view spoiler)(less)

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Mar 22, 2012 Dark Faerie Tales rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed-by-macie

Review Courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: The Story of Us feels very personal, yet puts into words many things that people think about, but rarely voice.

Opening Sentence: I found out something a out myself as all those boxes piled up: I hate change.

The Review:

The novel starts out with Cricket, who just graduated high school, moving away from her childhood home since her mother was remarrying. Cricket’s whole life seems to be changing since she is moving, starting the next chapter of...more

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Aug 15, 2012 Aubrey rated it 1 of 5 stars

Seriously one of the worst books I've ever read and I read about a book a day so that's saying a lot. From the get go I just couldn't relate to all the metaphors she used for EVERYTHING. And don't get me wrong I love dogs but I felt like this whole book was actually about Jupiter not Cricket.

Cricket and her boyfriend Jannsen have some fight and we don't even know what it's about until the end. Worst of all she never actually makes a decision. The book has no ending. It ended like it began with...more

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Aug 02, 2012 Stephanie A. rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-ya, girl-protagonists

If you are tempted to add some Taylor Swift lyrics like "looks a lot like a tragedy now" to that title, you would not be wrong. It is not unlike the book version of that song. This is not necessarily indicative of the ending (meet me after the spoiler link to discuss that), just the overall mood.

Part of me wants to read it again, because I had the worst time concentrating on the story the first time around while all I could focus on was the knot of fear and anxiety in my stomach - what did she...more If you are tempted to add some Taylor Swift lyrics like "looks a lot like a tragedy now" to that title, you would not be wrong. It is not unlike the book version of that song. This is not necessarily indicative of the ending (meet me after the spoiler link to discuss that), just the overall mood.

Part of me wants to read it again, because I had the worst time concentrating on the story the first time around while all I could focus on was the knot of fear and anxiety in my stomach - what did she do? I'm not sure I like her. will they stay together? will we have to sacrifice her mother's pending marriage in order to keep this one afloat? - plus a side of "ugh, these emails physically hurt to keep reading. It feels like a storm, only I can't tell if they're building to a head with plans for a cleansing happy ending, or just gathering strength for a final assault."

(view spoiler)

Conclusion #2 for all the people not reading the spoiler section: I still kind of feel the way I did while reading the emails. I'm left...unsettled, and while I think I liked the main character a bit more than the one than her last book, I don't think it will go down in the top half of her books for me, either.(less)

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May 17, 2012 Talia rated it 1 of 5 stars

I felt like this was a train wreck. I couldn't have looked away if I wanted to. I felt the story line followed a very predictable path: teenage girl has a fight with long time boyfriend, goes away for a family affair (in this case, her mother's wedding), meets a local boy, goes to a party and gets drunk for the first time, struggles with her feelings about whether she wants the old boy or new boy. All the while, her family and soon-to-be family are having one crisis after another as the wedding...more

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Sep 22, 2012 Nicole rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-books, self-discovery, ya-fiction

This is my first Deb Caletti novel and I found the premise of it very interesting and honest. It revolves around love and choices. Two very seemingly simple words but they are not simple at all.

Crickett does not welcome change, at all. She hates changes because she finds it so difficult to hold onto what she loves when change and new things come. She is half of a seeming perfect couple but she made a mistake, a terrible mistake and her boyfriend, Janssen is heart broken. She would give anything...more This is my first Deb Caletti novel and I found the premise of it very interesting and honest. It revolves around love and choices. Two very seemingly simple words but they are not simple at all.

Crickett does not welcome change, at all. She hates changes because she finds it so difficult to hold onto what she loves when change and new things come. She is half of a seeming perfect couple but she made a mistake, a terrible mistake and her boyfriend, Janssen is heart broken. She would give anything to take back what happened but Jenssen asks her to figure it out and to not make him wait.

Crickett goes away for her mother's wedding. Let's just say her mother has not had much luck in the romance department. Crickett's father was not a good man, he was abusive. They are divorced and her mom had dated a few men but they have not been the one. But she meets Dan Jax and the wedding is happening. He is the one for her despite all the difficult things they go through. Crickett has a good brother, Ben and they are extremely close as siblings hope to be.

Through the course of the days leading up to the wedding, many things happen, relatives arrive and the family realizes how close they truly are. Despite their faults, they are still a family. Crickett meets Ash, who she feels attracted to but she does not know if Janssen is waiting for her. They do write to each other and through the topic of dogs and their bond to men, Crickett explains some very deep and powerful messages about how simple love is. I truly loved the words she wrote.

" You focus on the fact that the next day comes and there you are, still loving each other. They are a good friend to you, and you try to be a good friend back. They look after you and care for you, and you look after them and care for them. It's so simple, so pure. That's what's so great. That's what you treasure. You will never get this anywhere else. It's a unique, wordless relationship".

I love how meanintgful this novel was. It was heartfelt and full of emotions that touch something in the reader. The lessons learnt in this book are relatable and honest. But sometimes, I felt the author got a little too caught up in describing a situation and the reader gets confused or some of the writing is irrelevant.

That said, I loved how this book ended. Bittersweet but it left our characters stronger. Our characters grew and learnt about themselves and the reader in turn learns with them.(less)

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Jun 04, 2012 Michelle rated it 3 of 5 stars

This story is constructed in an interesting way. We meet Cricket's family--her, her brother Ben, and their mother--in the present as they are all packing up to go to the beach where their mother is marrying Dan Jax, or so Cricket and Ben hope, since their mother has a habit of leaving her fiances hanging the closer the wedding comes. However, all of our exposition about the characters' histories is given to us through letters Cricket writes to her ex-ish-boyfriend and her brother's best friend,...more This story is constructed in an interesting way. We meet Cricket's family--her, her brother Ben, and their mother--in the present as they are all packing up to go to the beach where their mother is marrying Dan Jax, or so Cricket and Ben hope, since their mother has a habit of leaving her fiances hanging the closer the wedding comes. However, all of our exposition about the characters' histories is given to us through letters Cricket writes to her ex-ish-boyfriend and her brother's best friend, Janssen. That is the titular "story of us," the one between Cricket and Janssen, who are stuck between being broken up and still being together because of something Cricket did that broke his heart (though mostly these letters contain stories about Cricket's dog, Jupiter, and things about dogs in general which even as a dog lover, I felt kept giving way too much metaphor to the story). We don't get any clear hints as to what Cricket did to Janseen, and we don't learn what happened until very late in the book. What happened is: (view spoiler). So, basically, half the book is present-day and the other half is the past, given to us in a very telling way and only through Cricket's perspective (something that bothered me and I'll mention why later). We meet a lot of interesting characters from Cricket's grandmother and aunt, who are boisterous and outgoing, to Dan's two daughters from his previous marriage, only one of whom strays out of the stereotypical step-sibling unwilling to part with the idea that her father isn't getting back together with her mother. So, at times, it's hard to pinpoint what exactly the major story is here. Is it Cricket and Janssen's story? Is it Cricket and her dog, Jupiter's story? Is it her family's story?

For not being completely sold on the story, I did like Cricket, probably because (parental and boyfriend issues aside) I went through what Cricket is going through post-high school graduation. I was undecided between two colleges, didn't like the idea of up and changing what my life had been like for eighteen years, and felt too worried about hurting people that I didn't want to make a decision at all. Oh, and I also had the great metaphor in that, very much like Cricket's family, (view spoiler). And that's the swiftest punch to the gut slash growing up wake-up call in the world, in my opinion. So, I understood what Cricket was going through, and I'm not sure if I'd act any differently in her situation. The relationships we see are very well developed, too. I loved the interaction among Cricket's family, especially the strong bond she has with Ben and her mother. They're a unit and reading about them, I actually did feel like they were a real family who survived all these ups and downs and managed to pull through it together. All of the secondary characters, too, are very well written and fleshed out for the most part, each with their own stories that managed to be addressed but not bog down Cricket's story as the main character. I enjoyed reading about these people, found all the disasters and triumphs to be fitting, and felt that the family story really has heart throughout.

My major problem with the story was that, for as much focus as his and Cricket's relationship is in her past and still in her present, as she's trying to figure out if she wants to hold onto their relationship or let him go, we never even meet the guy in the present. I wanted to care about their history, wanted to be invested in the choice Cricket had to make about whether they were going to continue their relationship, but it was hard to be engaged when you only know half the party. In fact, there were a couple times where I wondered if Janssen was even real, but since he's also Ben's best friend, I figured he had to be. We get all these letters Cricket writes to him, and toward the end of each letter, after she writes to him about another memory they've shared, she'll mention things that hint at what his letters to her have talked about, but that's it. We never see them interact other than through flashbacks and one seen at the end where he still says nothing and then is gone again by the next couple paragraphs. And since we weren't seeing him, I expected a lot more development in Ash and Cricket's relationship over the week. I was rooting for Ash by default since we actually met him and got to see their chemistry firsthand, but I felt that even their relationship (for as well written as I think it was) left more to be desired that we don't get. It almost happens in flashes, and then it's over. The ending also was slightly dissatisfying. (view spoiler)

The writing is the best part of the novel, in my opinion. It has the right sense of nostalgia to the tone and we get some really pretty writing and quotes without it becoming too over-the-top and metaphorical (all the dog references aside). I've read a few of Deb Caletti's books and, while The Story of Us isn't my favorite of her works, I don't regret having read the story and do think that it's a nice read, especially if you love YA books with strong family relationships. I just wish their had been a little more closure when it comes to the romantic relationships Cricket has in the book and a little more present-day interaction with Janssen than just flashbacks.(less)

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Apr 24, 2012 Jules rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 1-nook, 3-chick-lit, 0-sorted

I want to start out by saying that the writing itself was great. She's a great writer. She kept me reading even though I found myself hating how the story felt way too dragged out, the boy part not the wedding part. And I didn't know what the hell was going on between her and her long time boyfriend, Janssen. I still don't think I do. The book is almost over before you learn the reason for the break. It seemed like there wasn't enough interaction with the other characters to me, with the excepti...more

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Oct 02, 2012 Kim Smiley rated it 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book, as I do enjoy most stories from this author. This was a well written story of Cricket, who just finished high school and is at a crossroads in her life. Growing up w/ her mom and brother Ben, Cricket and her family are selling the house and moving in with Dan Jax, who her mother would be marrying very soon.

This book shows a lot of what it takes to be part of a "blended family." Dan has 2 daughters, 15 & 17 and a dog, Cruiser. While Crickets mom has her, Ben, and their ol...more

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May 10, 2013 Adrienne ツ rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: annoying-main-characters, ya-contemporary-romance, meh, owned, ebooks, stand-alone

The Story of Us popped up in my recommendations on Goodreads because of all the Sarah Dessen books I'd read. I thought Deb Caletti's books would be just like hers so I decided to take my chances on her. The title of this one was really catchy, and the blurb made me assume it would be a warm, quirky and summer-y read, so I chose this over all her other works. To say I was disappointed with how the story turned out would be an understatement.

Cricket's mother was finally getting married to a nice,...more The Story of Us popped up in my recommendations on Goodreads because of all the Sarah Dessen books I'd read. I thought Deb Caletti's books would be just like hers so I decided to take my chances on her. The title of this one was really catchy, and the blurb made me assume it would be a warm, quirky and summer-y read, so I chose this over all her other works. To say I was disappointed with how the story turned out would be an understatement.

Cricket's mother was finally getting married to a nice, independent and reliable guy after so many attempted relationships with middle-aged douches. Cricket likes Dan (the guy her mom's marrying) and she thinks her mom deserves her happy ending so she's praying for all the festivities to go as planned. But days before the wedding all hell breaks loose and the worst possible scenarios come to life. (view spoiler)

Cricket's experiencing some problems with her love life, too, and she spends a great deal of the book agonizing over a mistake that she made with her long-time boyfriend Janssen. They're on a break from each other, in which Cricket's given time to sort out all of her feelings. She meets a guy named Ash -- who takes an interest in her for reasons I will never understand -- and gets all confused about where her heart really lies. And to top things off, Oscar, her geeky best friend since forever maybe, started showing signs that he liked her. (view spoiler)

I'll be completely honest here. There was NO ROMANCE IN THIS BOOK. If there was, then I probably missed it. I didn't get to know Janssen very well; I only got to form a hazy opinion of what he was like because of some of Cricket's reminiscences. Ash was sweet and he had the potential to become a really great book boyfriend but since Cricket never gave him a chance (or the time of the day), I didn't get to learn much from him. The ending wasn't clear and I didn't know what happened next to the two guys in her life. I finished the book with a 'wtf' face.

I did learn a few fun facts about dogs. Those stories about dogs were the only enjoyable things in the book. I agree wholeheartedly with everything Cricket has said about them. They're truly smarter than what people give them credit for. (view spoiler) I'm not sure if I want to read any more of Ms. Caletti's books. I just couldn't relate with this book so I gave it a rating of only two stars.(less)

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Jun 15, 2012 Thomas rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: own-electronic, read-on-kindle

I must make a comparison to Sarah Dessen. Sarah Dessen's books deal with teenaged girls finding their way in the world while fixing some flaw or issue in their lives. Her books are consistently great - so consistently great that some say they are formulaic. I, for one, love Sarah Dessen. Maybe it's the romance maniac in me, or maybe I just love how she always amazes me with her writing. She's like that annoying kid in your AP English class who always picks up on the simile or metaphor before you...more

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Feb 22, 2013 Fran rated it 3 of 5 stars

“What’s to love about uncertainty? Nothing. It’s scary—a big black hole of possible outcomes. Change requires bravery, and I don’t even like to walk into creepy basements alone.”
Everything in seventeen-year-old Cricket’s life is uncertain. She can’t decide which college to attend or if she still wants to be in a relationship with her long term boy friend, Janssen. Her family is moving because her mom is remarrying.

The main plot line occurs during the week preceding her mother’s wedding. As fam...more

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Jun 23, 2012 Adriana rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-coming-of-age, ya-friendship, ya-romance, ya-social-situations, ya-siblings, ya-social-situations-family-relatio

I had to find a secluded place to finish reading this one because I was bawling my eyes out. I really, really loved this book. It may have just been the main character's personality that rang true to me, but I also think it was just a really well thought out book with great characters who had flaws but were imperfectly perfect just the same. I also thought that Cricket's personality traits were basically who I was as a teen (and who I still am in many ways). There were countless times she said o...more I had to find a secluded place to finish reading this one because I was bawling my eyes out. I really, really loved this book. It may have just been the main character's personality that rang true to me, but I also think it was just a really well thought out book with great characters who had flaws but were imperfectly perfect just the same. I also thought that Cricket's personality traits were basically who I was as a teen (and who I still am in many ways). There were countless times she said or thought something and I knew EXACTLY what she meant. The story all happens within about a week but it is definitely the story of Cricket, of her and her first love Janssen, and of her and her family in the form of correspondence between Cricket and Janssen. Cricket has graduated high school and as if this isn't enough change, her mom is getting re-married (to a great guy for a change), her family is moving, and her long time best friend and boyfriend and her are on a break. For a long time it was just Cricket, her mom, her older brother Ben and their dog Jupiter. So even leaving their home and moving is pretty hard on Cricket. Then they go to a beach house where the wedding of her mom and her mom's fiance Dan takes place. Dan has two daughters from his previous marriage, and they aren't exactly receptive to the new blended family. On top of that, there are several relatives that come in for the wedding and Cricket is worried that all the hullabaloo will affect her mom's decision to go through with the wedding because she has already left a couple of beaus at the airport and so has a runaway-bride reputation. Cricket and Janssen had some sort of falling out and now Cricket is stuck in limbo as to where their relationship will go. She has done something that she is sorry for, but their love is strong, built on years of friendship (Janssen is also Ben's best friend) and a connection that is undeniable. Much of the book also speaks to the connections between dogs and humans, which I loved. Jupiter the dog is getting on in age and she has a big long history with Cricket and her family. She has personality and she teaches a lot of life lessons to Cricket and to Janssen in the process of just being Jupiter the dog. I highly recommend this book to teen readers and adult readers who enjoy the teen books because it succeeds in painting a picture that you can visualize and in pulling at heartstrings and connecting with the ordinary and not-so ordinary of all the ups and downs of life. The best Caletti I've read so far.(less)

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May 17, 2012 Paopiggy rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, young-romance

I feel the need to write something about this because I'm justifying the 2-stars..to myself, in case I decide to reread the novel and wonder why this low.

There really was never enough tugging. I can't fault the writing because I think the author has good technique. I find that the story has issues too deep and yet the attempt to address each, half-hearted. Maybe that was how the heroine was drafted. But I'm just not convinced with her character's depth.

It's a matter of taste, though. She used d...more

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About Deb Caletti

Deb Caletti is an American writer born in San Rafael, California. She was a National Book Award finalist, as well as the recipient of other numerous awards including PEN USA finalist award, the Washington State Book Award, and SLJ Best Book award.
Deb went to Lake Washington High School in Kirkland, Washington, U.S.A., and graduated in 1981. She earned a BA in Journalism/Communications from the Uni...more

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Quotes from The Story of Us

“The scariest part of forever is that nothing is.” — 37 people liked it

“A dog — a dog teaches us so much about love. Wordless, imperfect love; love that is constant, love that is simple
goodness, love that forgives not only bad singing and embarrassments, but misunderstandings and harsh words.
Love that sits and stays and stays and stays, until it finally becomes its own forever. Love, stronger than death. A dog is a four-legged reminder that love comes and time passes and then your heart breaks.” — 24 people liked it

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