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What Happened To Goodbye

by Sarah Dessen (Goodreads Author)

4.0 of 5 stars 4.00 · rating details · 30,636 ratings · 2,409 reviews

Another town. Another school. Another Mclean. Ever since her parents' bitter divorce, Mclean and her father have been fleeing their unhappy past. And Mclean's become a pro at reinventing herself with each move. But in Lakeview, Mclean finds herself putting down roots and making friends—in part, thanks to Dave, the most real person Mclean's ever met. Dave just may be fallin...more

Paperback, 402 pages

Published by Puffin Books (first published May 10th 2011)

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What Happened to Goodbye
by Sarah Dessen (Goodreads Author)

Release date: Apr 09, 2013

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 moth…more

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Sep 14, 2011 Mily rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011

I miss the Sarah Dessen who wrote This Lullaby and The Truth About Forever. What happened?

115 likes · like · see review

May 27, 2011 Melannie :) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-2011

OHMYGOSH, *squeals*

seriously can't wait anymore,
I have been waiting for a new book by her since, what was it? 2009? I CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER

I want to read this book NOW *cries*

LOVE SARAH DESSEN.

COVER IS AWESOME.

46 likes · like · see review

Jun 22, 2011 Cara rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, realistic-fiction, to-re-read

Does Sarah Dessen still have the awesome stuff? Oh yeah. No doubt or question about it.

This time around we're gonna get to follow the story of a girl named Mclean. She comes from parents that go through a tabloid worthy divorce. Going against the norm Mclean decides to stay with her dad, and up to this point has been through four moves with him. Four different girls for each move. But this fourth move is going to be distinctly different because for the first time in long while she is going to b...more Does Sarah Dessen still have the awesome stuff? Oh yeah. No doubt or question about it.

This time around we're gonna get to follow the story of a girl named Mclean. She comes from parents that go through a tabloid worthy divorce. Going against the norm Mclean decides to stay with her dad, and up to this point has been through four moves with him. Four different girls for each move. But this fourth move is going to be distinctly different because for the first time in long while she is going to be herself, if she can even figure out who that is exactly.

The premise intrigued me a lot. I grew up as a military kid that moved around and I always did contemplate starting with a new slate. Be a different person; maybe present myself differently because the impression of who I am isn't set. I never did because it's hard to be someone you're not, just as Mclean figures out.

I felt the chaos and love that goes into restaurants. I caught the excitement of watching a basketball game (I live in place where college basketball is followed like a religion, and she got the feel of it just right). I got mad at Mclean’s mom but then understood her. I got to see how to start something big even if it seems impossible. I learned even a small change, one moment can make the difference. But most importantly I know why it’s important to find a place to call home. To find the people who will be home for you.

I wasn't sure why some people were expressing that they didn't fall in love with Dave. Dave is so... unique and sweet in his own way. I think because the relationship arc is different for Mclean and Dave that people couldn't connect with him the same way they did with the other leading guys. But he is a great guy, no disputing that. My top character choice for this book is Deb. Deb is fantastic. She is more than meets the eye and she isn't ashamed to be herself. Gotta love a character like that.

Dessen fans will read the book but I urge people who haven't to try one of her books. She really is (in my opinion) the best young adult realistic author out today. She captures the female teenage voice and presents it in a way that is relatable to people. Though not my favorite book I still stayed up late at night to finish and rooted for Mclean to find her normal and fully embrace the people who get who the real her is.

Side note:While I was reading this, this song popped into my head. I was learning how to play it on the guitar and it feels like it fits the story. It's kind of the flip of what could have happen if Mclean had decided to keep running away from herself.
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14 likes · like · see review

Apr 01, 2013 Haley rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I love Sarah Dessen and basically every book I've ever read by her was amazing, but What Happened to Goodbye was a dissapointment.

- I never really got into Mclean like I have the other main characters. When reading a book, you tend to care about the character and take an interest in them, but Mclean just didn't interest me. Characters that I did care about, for example, were Auden in Along for the Ride, Annabel in Just Listen, & Ruby in Lock and Key.

- Usually in every Sarah Dessen book, the...more I love Sarah Dessen and basically every book I've ever read by her was amazing, but What Happened to Goodbye was a dissapointment.

- I never really got into Mclean like I have the other main characters. When reading a book, you tend to care about the character and take an interest in them, but Mclean just didn't interest me. Characters that I did care about, for example, were Auden in Along for the Ride, Annabel in Just Listen, & Ruby in Lock and Key.

- Usually in every Sarah Dessen book, there is a romance/ a love story. In this book, with Dave and Mclean I just didn't feel that spark like I did with Auden & Eli or Remy & Dexter in This Lullaby. The romance factor of this book, also, was a dissapointment.

- For me personally, the whole thing with Basketball in this book was just a turnoff.

- I remember I finished Along for the Ride within 3 days. It makes you want to keep turning the page & reading more. But with What Happened to Goodbye, it's somewhat of a struggle getting through the book. Basically, it's boring.

- In other Sarah Dessen books, the whole thing is just more intense and intriguing, but in this book it just kind of droned on leaving you wondering, "When am I going to get to the good part?" Also, there is always something you learn at the end, that leaves you thinking & wondering. The way this book ended, the last sentence was about basketball. It just didn't do anything for me like the other books did.

- Dave is not who I would choose for a love interest. Sure, he seems like a cool guy but not someone you could fall in love with. One reason why I really like Sarah's books are because of the guy characters. Like Owen in Just Listen, Eli in Along for the Ride, & Nate in Lock and Key. They are the kind of guys you'd want to talk to and fall in love with. Not Dave.

Overall, I did not enjoy this book. If you are looking for a good Sarah Dessen book, in my opinon, her best books are Along for the Ride, Just Listen, Lock and Key, The Truth about Forever, & This Lullaby.(:(less)

9 likes · like · see review

May 10, 2011 Nomes rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, i-thought-i-would-love-this-but, not-for-me

What Happened to Goodbye has no huge inciting incident or great source of tension. Instead the book quietly unfolds in layers: each time Dessen revisits a scene/sub-plot, she goes just a little bit further than the previous time ~ giving more depth and insight into her characters lives, relationships and what makes them the way they are. Ad infintum and you reach the resolution: where Dessen has begun with isolated characters she ends with a motley group of friends who have bonded and each come...more

80 likes · like · see review

May 26, 2011 Vinaya rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-loved, favorites, fluff-fluffy-fluffest, fluffy-5-stars, guilty-pleasures, romance, ya-fiction

I ♥ Sarah Dessen. That is all.

Okay, I lie. That is NOT all. How could I use only six words when the possibility of six hundred exists? My lawyer genes would go into revolt!

I really, really liked What Happened to Goodbye. In fact, it just might rank up there with my other Dessen favourites, Just Listen and The Truth about Forever.

Generally, I tend to like Dessen heroes better than Dessen heroines. It was Owen and Wes who really lit up Just Listen and The Truth About Forever for me. Surprisingly,...more

33 likes · like · see review

May 17, 2011 Yue [Wonder of living] rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: can-t-wait-2010, young-adult, can-t-wait-2011, romance, realistic-fiction

OHMIGAWSH. *SQUEEEEEE* 8D Lol ;)
I. CAN'T. FREAKING. WAIT!!! Sarah Dessen rocks my socks! :D AHHHHHHH!!! XD

UPDATE: THE COVER LOOKS AMAZING!!!!!! XD

AS OF NOW, THE BOOK IS OUT.:D IT'S WAITING FOR ME AT THE LIBRARY. MUST. GO. NOW.

***REVIEW***

Another awesome love story from the wonderful Sarah Dessen. She never ceases to amaze me.:) This wasn't my favorite, but I loved it anyhow. I was reading it all of first through third period. Tsk tsk, I know. Shame on me. But it was totally worth it.:)

16 likes · like · see review

Jun 15, 2011 Ash rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Great, now I have to wait another billions years (okay, probably more like 2) for another Sarah Dessen book. Get cracking Dessen! Really though, the reason why so many people love her books are because she just gets it. She deals with problems that not only teenagers but anyone can relate to in some way.

Quick Overview: Another move for Mclean just means another persona. After her parents’ divorce Mclean and her father move around as he works as a restaurant consultant. Two years and four schools...more Great, now I have to wait another billions years (okay, probably more like 2) for another Sarah Dessen book. Get cracking Dessen! Really though, the reason why so many people love her books are because she just gets it. She deals with problems that not only teenagers but anyone can relate to in some way.

Quick Overview: Another move for Mclean just means another persona. After her parents’ divorce Mclean and her father move around as he works as a restaurant consultant. Two years and four schools later Mclean and her father are in Lakeview. Mclean thinks this is just another move, another school, and another girl. This time is different though because despite her plans Mclean finds that she’s making real friends and being…herself. Whoever that is.

Was there really any doubt that Dessen would deliver? Rhetorical question. I was kind of surprised by how much I liked Mclean. She was openly angry with her mother (rightly so I might add),no matter how much her mother pushes to be a part of her life again. I had a real understanding of Mclean. I understood why she was angry and why she did things. It almost felt I was the one who had been betrayed, and later as she comes to realizations and understandings I did too. More than anything though, I liked that Mclean was a good person. I loved how this book was as much about Mclean as it was about her family.

And of course you can’t NOT mention the secondary characters! Both of Mclean’s parents play a big role in the book and you get a genuine sense of what kind of people they are. What I found strange was that I actually didn’t like some of the secondary characters, like Riley and Heather. Although they are both typical Dessen characters they just didn’t do it for me. I found myself liking much less important characters like the endearingly stupid Leo. And holy guacamole (and I do like me some guacamole)!!! She put Jason in again! Like some other fans I wanted to see a happy ending for Jason or at least a progression of sorts. It’s not an ending, but it’s really interesting to see what happens with him and I’m immensely happy she put him in again. Weird and sensitive Deb though, by far, was my absolute favorite. Right from the first moment she’s introduced I wanted her to be a significant part of the book. And of course the guy, Dave. He’s different from Dessen’s other guys because he’s not an obvious dreamboat, or “cool”. In fact he’s kind of a dork. He’s quirky, weird, and a lot more vulnerable. Completely hilarious and a genius he’s already one of my favorites. They both teach Mclean that sometimes the hardest thing to do is have the courage to be yourself.

I felt I could particularly relate to Mclean because through high school I moved around and just like her I wasn’t sure if I really belonged anywhere because I didn’t have a place to call home. Just like her I learned that home isn’t a place but a feeling you have with people who care about you. Mostly though this book is about finding what it means to have a true sense of self. So to finally wrap this up, a 4.5 because I loved reading this, warts and all :D.(less)

7 likes · like · see review

Oct 25, 2012 Mel (who is deeply in love with Hal) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favourites

I love Young Adult-geared novels which have realistic relationships within them. I love that there was no instantaneous attraction between McLean and Dave, but that it built up after they got to know each other.

I completely adored the side-relationship between McLean's father and (view spoiler). Once again, from their interactions, you could feel the sexual attraction growing.

One last thing: I cried in this book. Full-on. Towards the end, predictably. In a way, the m...more

3 likes · like · see review

May 07, 2011 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-mt-bookpile

This doesn't need a lot of selling, because by now Sarah Dessen has a dedicated following and a recognizable formula: girl with some problem falls in love and resolves the problem by the end. What moved this from a 3 to a 4 for me was one scene directly out of Chas. Addams (you'll know it when you read it). Honestly, I never thought that I'd giggle over a Sarah Dessen book, but that one scene? Giggleable.

Maclean - or Liz, Beth, Lizbeth or Eliza - is the product of a Broken Marriage. Mom stayed "...more

4 likes · like · see review

Jun 04, 2011 Amelia rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010-2011-reading, best-books-ever, best-character-set, best-humor, best-main-character, best-original-idea, best-plot, best-romance, best-writing, own, contemporary-fiction, recommended, reviewed

Originally posted on The Authoress: Book Review and More.

So after having read nine of her previous novels, I may bit a bit biased but I really love Sarah Dessen’s new book. If you haven’t read any Sarah Dessen books before (I pray for your deprived soul), then this review is mostly for you. But if you’re a long time running fan of Sarah Dessen, then all you have to know is that this book doesn’t disappoint. In fact, you should already know that cause you should have already bought and read it by...more

5 likes · like · see review

Jun 17, 2011 Janina rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult-fiction, contemporary, on-my-shelf, covers-i-love, read-in-2011, summer-books, let-me-down, available-for-swapping

I finished this book yesterday afternoon when I was sitting in the waitingroom at my doctor's office and really had nothing else to do ... which probably says enough.

Seriously, I consider myself a Sarah Dessen fan. I have read almost all of her books and enjoyed the majority of them – to various degrees. What Happened To Goodbye, however, was a huge disappointment for me. The beginning was great, the whole set-up, the restaurant setting, but then ... the whole thing just fizzled out around page...more I finished this book yesterday afternoon when I was sitting in the waitingroom at my doctor's office and really had nothing else to do ... which probably says enough.

Seriously, I consider myself a Sarah Dessen fan. I have read almost all of her books and enjoyed the majority of them – to various degrees. What Happened To Goodbye, however, was a huge disappointment for me. The beginning was great, the whole set-up, the restaurant setting, but then ... the whole thing just fizzled out around page 100. And it's a long way to go from page 100 to page 400. Frankly speaking, I just found the rest of the book incredibly boring. I’m finding it difficult to really tell you why, but to me, it was just lacking the usual charm and heart. Let me tell you, I don’t read Dessen’s books because they are particularly deep and yes, I know they all follow the same formula. I read them for fun. I read them because, in my opinion, not a lot of authors can capture this feeling of change and growth, combined with lovely summer vibes and a swoon-worthy guy as well as her.

But here, the things I normally love about Dessen’s books were strangely muted and didn’t really come across. Not that I didn’t like Mclean as a character – she just didn’t stand out in any particular way for me. And despite the fact that I love to ramble about Dessen’s guys (see later), the main character’s voice is what carries the book. And if I don’t really care about her, I don’t care about the book either. The next thing is the quirky group of new friends. Well, Mclean’s friends were fun in this typically quirky way, but still, nothing too special. And then, Dave was a big disappointment as the love interest. From his description, he sounded very interesting: a science genius wanting the real high school experience and therefore giving up on university classes and the like, but in execution, he was just a very flat and boring character. Call me superficial, but Dessen’s guys are often the best about her books. I loved Wes from The Truth about Forever, Eli from Along for the Ride, Owen from Just Listen and Dexter from This Lullaby, and basically, those are the books I would recommend first and that I would label lovely comfort reads. Sorry to say, but with books like this my rule is: no swooning = no fun.

All in all, if you are a Dessen fan like me, you will probably read this anyway and form your own opinion. If you are no Dessen fan, you probably don’t want to read this anyway ;). But if you haven’t read anything by her yet and are looking for a good book to start with, I wouldn’t recommend What Happened To Goodbye.
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21 likes · like · see review

Jul 24, 2011 Valerie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: realistic-fiction

It was excellent, it's just that there was no full circle feeling that I usually get with Dessen. Maybe I just wanted the mom to explain herself. I still I want to know why. You can kind of get hints at why but I really wanted to hear it from McLean’s mom instead of just assume.

As always the secondary characters where good but I didn’t get as attached to them as usual. I could get a feel for the atmosphere of Luna Blue and McLean’s home but not so much with the weather and school. I know its su...more It was excellent, it's just that there was no full circle feeling that I usually get with Dessen. Maybe I just wanted the mom to explain herself. I still I want to know why. You can kind of get hints at why but I really wanted to hear it from McLean’s mom instead of just assume.

As always the secondary characters where good but I didn’t get as attached to them as usual. I could get a feel for the atmosphere of Luna Blue and McLean’s home but not so much with the weather and school. I know its summer but I’ve read books that are set in winter during the summer and I’ve felt the cold from the book. With What Happened to Goodbye I didn’t feel that. Like when snow was mentioned I thought, Snow? It’s winter? and then I remember, Oh yeah it is, I forgot.

I love McLean though, she is what really carries the book in this one (so if you don’t like her there will be a problem). She is someone I could really understand. Most of the time with Dessen's characters I understand the way the characters are feeling but in this one I could understand her. When kids move I’m sure that most think I could just start over. Be something new, someone different. And when you are young you can do that because you aren't set in your ways. McClean has to figure herself out in this move though.

But being different after every move is not all McLean’s about. She has a love/hate relationship with her mother and I could feel the same way McLean did about her. In any other book I would’ve felt that girl was being spoiled and difficult just to spite her mom but not with her. Dessen did a pretty good job with that.

I know some people have complaints with Dave but I really liked him. He’s corky without meaning to be. He’s smart-really smart- but not arrogant and sweet but not cheesy.

Okay so this is not exactly a spoiler but it’s about one of the cameos. (view spoiler)

All in all Dessen has still got it. (less)

2 likes · like · see review

Sep 16, 2011 Arlene rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-2011, ya-contemporary, young-adult

Must read for Sarah Dessen fans.

My deep like for What Happened to Goodbye comes down to one thing... the protag McLean Sweet. I liked her for lots of reasons and not just because I can relate to her determination to not look down until she identifies a constellation or two when looking up at a starry sky, or because like McLean I’ve never been one to just put myself out there on day one. Also it’s not just because we both have a name you’ve got to live up it, yeah some days it’s not all sweet an...more Must read for Sarah Dessen fans.

My deep like for What Happened to Goodbye comes down to one thing... the protag McLean Sweet. I liked her for lots of reasons and not just because I can relate to her determination to not look down until she identifies a constellation or two when looking up at a starry sky, or because like McLean I’ve never been one to just put myself out there on day one. Also it’s not just because we both have a name you’ve got to live up it, yeah some days it’s not all sweet and lovely. :/ When it comes down to it, it was McLean’s philosophy on people and life. Plain and simple. She hit home for me in so many ways that at the end of the day, I could relate on so many levels and that’s what made her a compelling character in my eyes.

McLean and her dad have moved from town to town for the past few years. There was a messy, public divorce along with a gut wrenching betrayal that led McLean’s dad to close his restaurant and take a consulting job that has them packing their suitcases about every six months. McLean doesn’t mind. She loves being on the road with her father and changing her identity at every stop, but all that takes a turn when they come to Luna Blue. There she meets some great friends and becomes part of a community where hiding behind someone she’s not is no longer an option.

The majority of this story revolves around McLean’s strained relationship with her mom. There was a heated moment in the book where she tells her mom to just “own it”... own the fact that their mother/daughter relationship is fractured because her mom did something pretty shitty. McLean owed her nothing because if you screw up, down or inside out, you can’t just expect an apology to fix everything that’s wrong. Life just isn’t that way. Actions have consequences, and more so selfish actions destroy relationships. When this scene was unraveling before my eyes, I was so much on McLean’s side that I felt myself rooting for her all the way.

Funny thing with books; a character can do or say one small thing to claim your allegiance and that’s exactly what happened here.

This book is made especially for Sarah Dessen’s true fans. With her you’re not going to get a rushed story, but rather a slow and steady development of a situation. Dessen doesn’t play the love triangle game and most importantly you won’t come across a guy and girl that have a chance meeting with tireless declarations of love, but rather a girl that has so much crap going on in her life that the last thing she wants or expects is a guy that’s going to sweep her off her feet and spew love sonnets. So when she meets “the one,” he’s the guy that’s there for her, that challenges her to be who she really is and not hide behind false pretences, the guy that’s there when you need him… and when the clouds and cobwebs are lifted, he’s the one that she sees as her 2am. ;) Beautiful and real! Now that’s what I call awesomesause. Give me more...

¸.•´¯`•.´¯`•.¸¸.•´¯`•.¸><(((º>
.¸¸.•´¯`•.¸><(((º>
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16 likes · like · see review

May 26, 2011 Shelley rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audio, ya, personal-library, realistic-fiction

Ok, this is probably unfair to only give it 3 stars. We need HALVES. I read it immediately following Dessen's The Truth About Forever, which I loved. And can't wait for her to sign my copy in a couple of weeks. Ok back to the book. What I really liked about this story was the humor. I listened to it on audio and found myself snorting or laughing out loud a lot. It was a pleasant surprise. l also liked that McLean is not as passive as some of Dessen's characters--she is really pissed at her mom a...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jun 15, 2011 Brianne Carter rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I love Sarah Dessen. Her earlier books were hit and miss for me, but I've loved everything she's written since The Truth About Forever.

Except, unfortunately, What Happened to Goodbye.

It's not a bad book. Dessen's prose, as always, is solid, with a few brilliant lines that made me put the book down to think. The problem was those lines were not the only reason I put the book down.

I've always found Dessen's books to have slow starts. From past experience, I know if I push through the beginning and...more I love Sarah Dessen. Her earlier books were hit and miss for me, but I've loved everything she's written since The Truth About Forever.

Except, unfortunately, What Happened to Goodbye.

It's not a bad book. Dessen's prose, as always, is solid, with a few brilliant lines that made me put the book down to think. The problem was those lines were not the only reason I put the book down.

I've always found Dessen's books to have slow starts. From past experience, I know if I push through the beginning and get settled into the book's world, I'll be hooked in no time. So, I pushed through, but I still felt like I was settling into the world come the last chapter.

Not much happens. Between the restaurant scenes, the party, and Mclean meeting Dave, the beginning arguably has the most exciting scenes in the book. The plot dragged, the romance dragged, and the climax was very, well, anti-climatic. Beyond Mclean running away, there was no real fall-out to her friends discovering her past identities. It's beyond me why no one got mad at her. On that note, the only people Mclean ever fights with are her parents. Riley's overprotective of Dave, and despite what Mclean's told her about not wanting a relationship, she doesn't get mad when Mclean and Dave start to get closer. While Deb may not be the type to get mad, there's no tension when Mclean essentially ditches her. Dave's never mad, or even annoyed, at her, nor is she ever mad at him. There's one scene where Dave apologizes for something, and I couldn't for the life of me figure out what he was apologizing for. There's very little tension, and combined with a slow plot, it was hard for this book to hold my interest.

The biggest problem, though, was Mclean herself. I understand how she can reinvent her persona from town to town, but there has to be something about her character that remains constant. Even if the point of the book is for her to find herself, there still needs to be a three-dimensional character there for her to grow into, to have her coming-of-age moment. I didn't know enough about her to care about her, or even root for her romance with Dave. In fact, I wanted to read Riley's story of Dave and Ellis more than anything. I would've been happy to read Opal or Jason's story as well.

I also found this book to be a little dizzying in the sense that I didn't always know where I was or when it was after a scene transitioned (and sometimes I didn't even realize there was a transition.) There was a point where I was convinced Mclean was in two places at once. I'll be the first to admit that this could be because I didn't pay enough attention, but if that's the case, it was because I was bored, and that's a problem in itself.

Ultimately, the restaurant scenes, secondary characters, and prose saved this novel, but I'm still disappointed.(less)

6 likes · like · see review

Nomes i felt the same way (!) ~ and you have talked about it so well!

i am honestly confused by all the glowing reviews (?)

anyways, you were kinder than me....more
Jun 15, 2011 04:25pm

Brianne Carter Heh, I'm generous with stars :P Really, I won't finish a book that I don't like, so I did like it a little. I can't say I'm too surprised by the glowi...more
Jun 15, 2011 04:47pm

Nomes i think when i give 2 stars it is not bad. it says i think it "is okay" haha. although i guess 2 stars insn't very encouraging.

i do give out one star...more
Jun 15, 2011 05:41pm

Aug 01, 2010 Mary Ann marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Finally! I've been waiting for her to write a new book since along for the ride came out!!

11 likes · like · see review

Jul 26, 2011 laaaaames rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: people who like fried pickles

Things Sarah Dessen loves: fried pickles

Things Sarah Dessen hates: NPR-listenin', seitan-eatin' liberals

Actually this book was pretty much a snoozefest, which is sad because just the way I watch Aaron Sorkin's later stuff I read Dessen's books thinking I might get riled up. I will give major props for the awesome Deb, and I liked Dave a lot too.

Oh, yeah, and anyone who's ever run a restaurant will tell you that the free items you give out to customers as they're arriving should never be somethin...more

4 likes · like · see review

Aug 13, 2011 Anna rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, romance, i-own, i-love-to-death, favorites

This is one great book, I swear. I love Mclean Sweet so much. She's not that bitchy, brat, selfish kind that a usual character be when dealing with a divorce. She's well, sweet and kind. ☺ I usually end up reading a Sarah Dessen book for about 2 days because it's usually long but clearly I just finished it for a day. Gosh, I really cannot tell how awesome this book is. I don't even know why I doesn't have much of a rate. But for me, definite 5 star.

I really love the characters how everybody just...more

2 likes · like · see review

Oct 09, 2011 Nic rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Quite enjoyed this. Per usual, the writing and the crazy setups (e.g. Mclean's family and the whole basketball situaion, the interesting jobs people have) are the highlights for me; I don't think I've read a single Sarah Dessen book with an ending that was as happy as I'd like. Hopeful, sure, but I like my endings coated with frosting and rainbows and kittens, not merely upbeat realism. Especially when I'm reading something that is nominally a romance. (I do feel, though, that part of Dessen's s...more Quite enjoyed this. Per usual, the writing and the crazy setups (e.g. Mclean's family and the whole basketball situaion, the interesting jobs people have) are the highlights for me; I don't think I've read a single Sarah Dessen book with an ending that was as happy as I'd like. Hopeful, sure, but I like my endings coated with frosting and rainbows and kittens, not merely upbeat realism. Especially when I'm reading something that is nominally a romance. (I do feel, though, that part of Dessen's strength is that her books are never just romances. It can make them feel hard to categorize; they don't feel like romances at all to me, because so much of them is devoted to things other than the couple's relationship. Makes for a cool book, but not as sappy-sweet as I sometimes kind of wish. Still, good stuff.)

As Maggie does in Along for the Ride, some of these characters make me feel Dessen is pushing a bit too hard on the "don't make assumptions/people can be more than what they seem" angle. Mostly, I mean Deb: the fact that she steps in to organize the model is great and in-character, but I felt like having both the tattoo-parlor thing and the metal-drummer thing was a little too much in the "also, she's cool without realizing it!" department. One thing like that is a pleasant and interesting surprise; more than one says to me, "Look at how I'm subverting stereotypes!" Then, when you throw in a genius prep cook who went to Harvard, it starts to feel like, "Well, yes, there's more to these people than meets the eye, but these people are far from the real-life norm."

The individual instances are well done - Deb talks about drumming in a way that I think is in-character. I think some of what annoys me a little is Deb's wide-eyed lack of realization that these are "cool" things, and things people didn't expect of her. It would be kind of (some exaggeration ahead) like if Mclean was surprised that Dave thought her getting him third-row seats at the basketball game was cool.

On the flip-side, I think Dessen does a great job creating a group of semi-misfit kids who are friends. (Part of this is because I find Heather genuinely obnoxious, but this trait is acknowledged by the other characters, which makes me identify more with them and even forgive her a bit. THIS IS HOW YOU DO OBNOXIOUS CHARACTERS RIGHT. As opposed to pretending they aren't. :P)(less)

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Aug 15, 2011 Lauren (Lauren Reads YA) rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Everyone!

Shelves: i-own

Check out my book blog for more reviews!

What Happened To Goodbye was a great contemporary read, just like every other book of hers.

Mclean, the main character, always changes her personality according to where she just moved, but in Lakeview, Mclean finds herself not creating a new identity but actually being herself. And eventually, she discovers that home is not a location, but it’s the people that you love around you.
I really loved the setting; the little restaurant Mclean’s dad is trying to...more

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Jun 06, 2011 Jessica Schira rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

After waiting two years for the release of Whatever Happened to Goodbye, I was very disappointed with it.
Technically speaking, the book should have been very good. It was written in Dessen’s traditional writing voice, which is very lyrical. It also showcased her enviable ability to effortlessly blend back story and present tense. The novel was well paced, had an angsty girl and cute guy, and also had the tiny homage’s that Dessen includes in most of her novels.

What the story lacked was a charact...more After waiting two years for the release of Whatever Happened to Goodbye, I was very disappointed with it.
Technically speaking, the book should have been very good. It was written in Dessen’s traditional writing voice, which is very lyrical. It also showcased her enviable ability to effortlessly blend back story and present tense. The novel was well paced, had an angsty girl and cute guy, and also had the tiny homage’s that Dessen includes in most of her novels.

What the story lacked was a character I could relate to, and even worse, most of the time I just wanted to cold cock her and tell her to stop whining and grow up. The book might have been able to redeem itself if the supporting cast had been interesting, but they weren’t. Unlike Eli, in Along for the Ride, Dave did not have any real mystery, and unlike Owen in Just Listen he lacked compassion, he was not even lovable like Nate (Lock and Key) and Dexter (This Lullaby), to me, Dave was just immature and felt like someone that Dessen stuck into the book because she needed a romantic counterpart. The rest of the gang of ragtag supporting character also failed to capture my interest.
It turns out that when Dessen does not create characters that I like, her plots fail to hold me, and I quickly loose interest and become bored.

For me, one of the most irritating aspects of WHtoG, was the character of Jason. In two of her previous books, Dessen used this character and did a pretty good job of developing him. In this novel, Dessen introduced him all over again, this time completely changing his circumstances. The change would have been amazing if Dessen could have come up with a way to explain why it happened, but as far as I know, no explanation was given, or if it was I was so bored that I skipped over that part.

While Whatever Happened to Goodbye is not a book that I will probably read over and over again, it is certainly a great deal better than some of the other YA novels that are currently being marketed and I am eagerly looking forward to Dessen’s next novel. While I wait, I think I’ll reread Just Listen a couple more times.
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Jan 22, 2013 Ｓｙｄｎｅｙ rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Another Town? Another new school? Mclean doesn't really mind. In fact, she welcomes the chance to try on a new persona. Ever since her parents bitter divorce she and her father have been on the move from one place to another leaving the past behind them. With each new move it has brought a fresh opportunity for Mclean to reinvent herself. perky rah-rah girl or drama queen even all round joiner. Then in Lakeview for the first time she is putting down roots and making friends. Mclean is finally tr...more

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Jun 05, 2011 Chelsea Barva-kertesz rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Sarah Dessen is an amazing author who never lets me down, and she succeeded in writing another great book. She writes about girls in different situations that makes their life not perfect, but these girls usually get to experience the ultimate love story and realize that whatever is going on in their lives will get better.-

McClean lives with her dad who works for a business which requires them to move all over the world in order to fix up restuarants that are in need of help. In just two years,...more Sarah Dessen is an amazing author who never lets me down, and she succeeded in writing another great book. She writes about girls in different situations that makes their life not perfect, but these girls usually get to experience the ultimate love story and realize that whatever is going on in their lives will get better.-

McClean lives with her dad who works for a business which requires them to move all over the world in order to fix up restuarants that are in need of help. In just two years, McClean has moved four times, and everywhere she moves, she assumes a new identity. So far, she has been Beth, the cheerleader, Lizbet, the cool laidback girl, and Eliza, the sporty girl. When she moves to her new town, she intends to assume the identity of Liz, but for some reason, when her cute neighbor asks her name, she tells him it is McClean. She has never used her real name in the towns she has lived in since her parents were married.

McClean's relationship with her Mom is anything but perfect. Ever since her mother left her father for the coach of a local basketball team, McClean has sided with her Dad, which means living with him, and not liking her mom because of what she did to McClean's dad. McClean's mom loves her, and tries so hard to reach out to her daughter.

In the past, McClean would always make friends she knew she would not get too attached to, and she would always keep them at a distance, but in this new town, she instantly makes a group of close knit friends and she also gets to know and love the staff of the restaurant her dad is fixing up.

With a model of the town that needs to be completed soon, a mom that is just trying to win back the love of her daughter, and a dad that is always on the move, Mclean has her hands full. Good thing she has a group of kick butt friends and an awesome cute guy who thinks the world of McClean. McClean realizes that her life is different than it seems, and maybe, in this town, she will put down some roots.

I would recommend this book to any teen reader and young adult because it is a great read about love and growing up.

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Jul 27, 2011 Alexis (The Literature Lion) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, read-in-2011, contemporary

A NEW FAVORITE.

Full Review: link coming soon.

Much like in many of her other novels, Sarah Dessen delivers a plot so original and characters that fit perfectly into the story line. With raw emotion and amazing writing, this has to be one of her best novels yet!

McLean Elizabeth Sweet is making an attempt at a new life, every time her father moves for his job as a restaurant manager. She adapts a new life with each move, but this time around she's forced to be McLean. Living with her barely home fa...more A NEW FAVORITE.

Full Review: link coming soon.

Much like in many of her other novels, Sarah Dessen delivers a plot so original and characters that fit perfectly into the story line. With raw emotion and amazing writing, this has to be one of her best novels yet!

McLean Elizabeth Sweet is making an attempt at a new life, every time her father moves for his job as a restaurant manager. She adapts a new life with each move, but this time around she's forced to be McLean. Living with her barely home father, McLean blames her mother for her parents divorce and rarely speaks to her. Soon she meets David, a misfit at school that yet manages to fit in.

Just like with all of Sarah Dessen's other novels, I get so involved with the characters, and I noticed that this one had even more supporting characters than her other novels. It's typical to see two or three extra characters in which you get to learn their story, but now there is so much more. We get to fully understand McLean's mother and step-father's history; the other restaurant manager, Opal, who's quirky and always stressed out; the living and family situation of David's best friend and McLean's new friend, Riley and much more. The characters were well developed and thought out and I noticed there's a lot of prejudice breaking in this novel, which I enjoyed. Riley seems like the 'bad-girl' but she gets hurt just like everyone else and has a loving family and group of friends. Then there's Deb- the smart organized girl that has plenty of interesting tricks up her sleeves, and ones you definitely wouldn't picture her knowing. Deb is definitely one of the more interesting characters in the novel, and I really enjoyed her scenes with McLean.

Dave, ah Dave. I loved him, there was no doubt about that, but I love all of Dessen's boys. McLean and his relationship starts out friendly, and slowly turns into something more. I really enjoyed seeing their relationship grow over time, and watching them flirt. It was all too cute.

Usually Dessen's novels are all based around that one romance, but I think that this novel was so much more than that. McLean was finally accepting that the person she is now, is the one she's supposed to be. She's learning to respect her mother and her father's choices, and becoming an even better person as the days go on. Friendships played a big factor into this novel, and it definitely balanced out the romance.
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Apr 25, 2011 Lea (YA Book Queen) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: for-review, printed-book, own, favorites

"Your past is always your past. Even if you forget it, it remembers you" (Dessen 368).

Mclean Sweet is a girl with quite a few pasts - perky Eliza, dramatic Lizbet, and all-around-joiner Beth. But in Lakeview, she gets a chance to a be a girl she hasn't been for some time - Mclean. The only problem is that Mclean isn't quite sure who that girl is anymore. In this new town, her old tricks for claiming a new identity fail miserably, her disconnected relationship with her mother is starting to get m...more "Your past is always your past. Even if you forget it, it remembers you" (Dessen 368).

Mclean Sweet is a girl with quite a few pasts - perky Eliza, dramatic Lizbet, and all-around-joiner Beth. But in Lakeview, she gets a chance to a be a girl she hasn't been for some time - Mclean. The only problem is that Mclean isn't quite sure who that girl is anymore. In this new town, her old tricks for claiming a new identity fail miserably, her disconnected relationship with her mother is starting to get more persistent, and even the rules she and her father have been living by start to change...But with a few new friends - from surprisingly unique Deb, to brainy and quirky Dave, and laid-back Riley - Mclean will have to come to terms with the girl she really is...whoever that may be.

As with Dessen's other novels, What Happened to Goodbye captures what it's like to be a teen dealing with whatever issues you've got going on. From Mclean's complicated feelings towards her mother and her new step-family, to her experiences in a new town with new people - it's all realistic and Dessen makes Mclean an easy character to enjoy and relate with. It's easy to be lost at Mclean's age, and I think we can all understand the appeal of being someone else to escape our problems. The plot is a bit different from Dessen's other books, while still maintaining her usual charm and knack for forming complicated and endearing relationships between characters.

With flawed characters, heartfelt moments, and one girl's discovery of what it means to be yourself, What Happened to Goodbye is sure to be an enjoyable story for any bookworm.

Highlights: Dessen is truly the queen of realistic YA fiction (*cue bowing*). She writes that genre perfectly, and her writing is like home to me - a place of comfort and familiarity since I grew up reading her books. She always infuses each story with a likable heroine, a meaningful plot, and an overall endearing effect. The biggest surprise was Jason (Yes, the same Jason I hated in Along for the Ride and The Truth About Forever). Shockingly, I liked Jason in this book. And Deb - can I say that I love Deb? She came across as your typical cliché in the beginning, but then the more you get to know her throughout the story, the more surprises you'll find. This story is heartwarming and worthwhile - I'd definitely recommend you check it out.

Lowlights: Dave. I liked his quirkiness but I didn't really know too much about him by the end. More about him (as well as Riley) would have been nice. Also, it can obvious to any Dessen fan that her novels tend to be a bit formulaic.

Allusions: Jason and Lakeview from The Truth About Forever; The summer town of Colby, Last Chance Cafe, and I think Isabel (but I could be wrong) from Keeping the Moon; Heidi and Thisbe from Along for the Ride; and possibly more characters/places that I'm forgetting.

Final rating: 4.5 out of 5
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May 30, 2011 Good Golly Miss Holly rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: aussie-swap

When posed with the question of favourite authors, the one and only name that pops into mind has always been (and I hope will always be) Sarah Dessen so it is without doubt that I lead a raving review from this point onwards.

With a name like McLean, you'd be forgiven for thinking of our protagonist as a renowned basketball player instead this theme plays only a slight role in What Happened to Goodbye alongside a few other quirky backdrops such as scale model building, the hospitality industry an...more

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Jan 20, 2013 Morgan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-2013-challenge, winter-white-challenge

FINALLY. Finished the book. YAY! It wasn't so much the book was bad, I guess I just got caught up with so many others, and before I knew it I forgot all about the book. Anyways review :)

What I liked:
-The whole 'affair' I hated it yet at the same time it needed to happen. If I was Mclean I wouldn't even know how to look at my mother.

-Dave and his charming ways. I wish he was my neighbor!

-Mclean. It would be so cool to pretend to be someone else, like I have 3 different personalities around cert...more

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Feb 24, 2012 Danielle (Devourer of Books) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: i-liked-it, beach-reads, chick-lit, contemporary, i-had-high-hopes-for-this

After trying to read Lock and Key by Sarah, I took a break from her writing because, to me, her stories were all clichéd and had the same plot. This book was different. This isn't about romance, it's about family and where they stand.

Mclean is having a hard time adjusting to the fact her mother left her and Gus, her father, with another man. Mclean and her father leaves her old neighbourhood behind. She changes who she is to start fresh and makes new friends, but it isn't enough for her. She's s...more

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Sep 08, 2011 Kaethe rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Veronica

Shelves: age-ya, domesticity, fiction, friendship, parenting, realistic, romance, strong-smart-female-protagonist, contemporary

Dessen mines the same territory, but she keeps pulling up gems, so that's all right. There's a girl, a senior in high school. While her life is mostly just fine, there's a problem that needs work. There's a guy, and several gals, and the heroine gets really engaged in the life of these people, discovering good friends and a romance along the way. The charm of a Dessen book is that we don't just fall vicariously in love with a guy, we fall for the whole group. Everyone is richly fleshed out, reve...more

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Quotes from What Happened to Goodbye

“Two a.m.' He swallowed, then said, "You know. The person you can call at two a.m. and, no matter what, you can count on them. Even if they're asleep or it's cold or you need to be bailed out of jail...they'll come for you. It's like, the highest level of friendship.” — 462 people liked it

“Your past is always your past. Even if you forget it, it remembers you.” — 422 people liked it

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