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Once and for All
by
Sarah Dessen (Goodreads Author)
As bubbly as champagne and delectable as wedding cake, Once and for All, Sarah Dessen's thirteenth novel, is set in the world of wedding planning, where crises are routine.
Louna, daughter of famed wedding planner Natalie Barrett, has seen every sort of wedding: on the beach, at historic mansions, in fancy hotels and clubs. Perhaps that's why she's cynical about happily-e ...more
Louna, daughter of famed wedding planner Natalie Barrett, has seen every sort of wedding: on the beach, at historic mansions, in fancy hotels and clubs. Perhaps that's why she's cynical about happily-e ...more
Hardcover, 358 pages
Published
June 6th 2017
by Viking Books for Young Readers
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(showing 1-30)
This is the perfect romantic summer read. It’s lovely inside and out.
I received a copy of this book yesterday morning and began reading it the same evening. I tried to resist, as I already have eight other books lined up, just patiently waiting their turn to woo me, but I couldn’t keep my eyes off this beauty. (Bonus: it smells really good.)
And guess what? I read it in one sitting. I haven’t done that in quite some time, if you don’t count graphic novels, which don’t take long to finish. This ...more
I received a copy of this book yesterday morning and began reading it the same evening. I tried to resist, as I already have eight other books lined up, just patiently waiting their turn to woo me, but I couldn’t keep my eyes off this beauty. (Bonus: it smells really good.)
And guess what? I read it in one sitting. I haven’t done that in quite some time, if you don’t count graphic novels, which don’t take long to finish. This ...more
2.25/5 stars
I decided to quote the very last sentence of this book because it was my favorite line throughout this entire thing. It meant it was finally over.
warning: unmarked spoilers
Huge thank you @SarahDessen, as I almost forgotten what disappointment felt like.
This book was supposed to be good. It was supposed to be cute . It was supposed to make me want to actually leave my house and fall in lov ...more
Ambrose would again reach out a hand, asking me to dance. And this time, I'd say yes.
I decided to quote the very last sentence of this book because it was my favorite line throughout this entire thing. It meant it was finally over.
warning: unmarked spoilers
Huge thank you @SarahDessen, as I almost forgotten what disappointment felt like.
This book was supposed to be good. It was supposed to be cute . It was supposed to make me want to actually leave my house and fall in lov ...more
Not my favorite Dessen novel nor my least favorite. I would put this in the top 8 if you really want to get detailed.
I love the aspect of wedding planning in this book! Being a wedding photographer myself, I understood so many of the situations and people that were a hassle in weddings! I also just love weddings in general!!
Louna was a likable character. She was defiantly guarded throughout the novel and we learn why and it 100% makes sense but I wanted to see a tad bit more growth from her. I e ...more
I love the aspect of wedding planning in this book! Being a wedding photographer myself, I understood so many of the situations and people that were a hassle in weddings! I also just love weddings in general!!
Louna was a likable character. She was defiantly guarded throughout the novel and we learn why and it 100% makes sense but I wanted to see a tad bit more growth from her. I e ...more
Sarah Dessen's books pretty much defined my early high school years. I mean, I was obviously into other series like Harry Potter, but her books were probably my first true introduction to YA.
Louna is a teen girl who works for her mom's successful wedding planning business. They eventually hire Ambrose, a cocky rich boy who's a total flirt. He doesn't do commitment and his "intention is to have, well, no intention."
The narration jumps back and forth between the present day and the story of Loun ...more
Louna is a teen girl who works for her mom's successful wedding planning business. They eventually hire Ambrose, a cocky rich boy who's a total flirt. He doesn't do commitment and his "intention is to have, well, no intention."
The narration jumps back and forth between the present day and the story of Loun ...more
Either I've outgrown Sarah Dessen, or this was a huge dip in quality. I'm going go do some... homework. It'll be a better use of my time than reading this mess was.
● where
● the
● FUCK
● is the plot
● ??
● how can you publish a book that has neither plot nor character development
THE 2015 DESSEN STAN IN ME IS DISAPPOINTED.
It started out good. It even made me laugh — and I found myself shipping loony tunes and embryo.
● where
● the
● FUCK
● is the plot
● ??
● how can you publish a book that has neither plot nor character development
THE 2015 DESSEN STAN IN ME IS DISAPPOINTED.
It started out good. It even made me laugh — and I found myself shipping loony tunes and embryo.
“I think,” he continued, ignoring me, “that we met cute. Like, you dropped a ki...more
Jun 06, 2017
maybelline ⚓
rated it
it was ok
Shelves:
contemporary,
n-o-p-e,
300-pgs,
look-at-that-beauty,
clichéd-to-death,
standalones,
meh,
bye,
yam-brs
I legit forgot I had to write this review lol jokes on me
Let’s be real, no one actually goes to weddings for any reason BESDIES the food and the CAKE obvious.
and the entire theme of this majorly disappointing book is weddings. The mc’s mother is a wedding planner and I was super excited to see how this would be bc personally, I really enjoy weddings. Idk something about the whole festivities and traditions of it
its cool as French fries
but you wanna know whats NOT as cool as French fries??
THIS ...more
Let’s be real, no one actually goes to weddings for any reason BESDIES the food and the CAKE obvious.
and the entire theme of this majorly disappointing book is weddings. The mc’s mother is a wedding planner and I was super excited to see how this would be bc personally, I really enjoy weddings. Idk something about the whole festivities and traditions of it
its cool as French fries
but you wanna know whats NOT as cool as French fries??
THIS ...more
“Some stories tell themselves.”
I’ve been an avid Sarah Dessen reader since that fateful night that led me to pick up Just Listen years ago. And to this day I’m grateful that read was my first choice because it utterly captivated me and cemented my decision to then check out nine more books by the author.
So I’ve been clearly patiently waiting for this newest book to come out, checking info about it almost monthly since I finished reading Saint Anything in 2015. And thankfully Once and For All liv ...more
I’ve been an avid Sarah Dessen reader since that fateful night that led me to pick up Just Listen years ago. And to this day I’m grateful that read was my first choice because it utterly captivated me and cemented my decision to then check out nine more books by the author.
So I’ve been clearly patiently waiting for this newest book to come out, checking info about it almost monthly since I finished reading Saint Anything in 2015. And thankfully Once and For All liv ...more
Apr 22, 2017
Joshua Gabriel (Forever Bookish Josh)
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Thank you, Penguin Random House, for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I'd had no idea I might be where I was now, on the edge of something with the last person I'd ever expect. —Louna
Once and for All was my second encounter with Sarah Dessen, who's known as the queen of YA contemporary. Now, I already understand why many people love her books so much. Much like Saint Anything, this book is sweet, light, and pleasantly insightful. I really enjoyed it because it gave ...more
I'd had no idea I might be where I was now, on the edge of something with the last person I'd ever expect. —Louna
Once and for All was my second encounter with Sarah Dessen, who's known as the queen of YA contemporary. Now, I already understand why many people love her books so much. Much like Saint Anything, this book is sweet, light, and pleasantly insightful. I really enjoyed it because it gave ...more
This book was... alright. But mostly disappointing.
I read it while I was sick, and when I'm sick all I want to read is light and fluffy contemporary.
For awhile, this was giving me exactly what I wanted. Especially as someone currently planning a wedding, it was a delight to read.
And then BAM all of a sudden there's a shoot shooting sub plot? What? Where did that come from? Why was I not emotionally prepared for this in any way? A little touch of #toosoon?
Also halfway through BAM the characters m ...more
I read it while I was sick, and when I'm sick all I want to read is light and fluffy contemporary.
For awhile, this was giving me exactly what I wanted. Especially as someone currently planning a wedding, it was a delight to read.
And then BAM all of a sudden there's a shoot shooting sub plot? What? Where did that come from? Why was I not emotionally prepared for this in any way? A little touch of #toosoon?
Also halfway through BAM the characters m ...more
Dnf at 65%.
My first Sarah Dessen book & what a disappointment at that.
let me just begin with the mc & the love interest, just the enough reason to drop out of the book for me. Louna is such a dull & boring character. i do understand that she was going through a tragedy of her ex. but her dullness was too much to take, as we were going through day to day with her. plus she did not look at all grief-stricken to me. if the event of her ex was all that painful then why not go for therap ...more
My first Sarah Dessen book & what a disappointment at that.
let me just begin with the mc & the love interest, just the enough reason to drop out of the book for me. Louna is such a dull & boring character. i do understand that she was going through a tragedy of her ex. but her dullness was too much to take, as we were going through day to day with her. plus she did not look at all grief-stricken to me. if the event of her ex was all that painful then why not go for therap ...more
https://beahreads.blogspot.com.br
Em 2010, após ler "Along For The Ride" da Sarah Dessen, basicamente apaguei todos os livros da autora da minha vida. Além de não ser muito fã de livros do gênero contemporâneo, a escrita de Dessen foi maçante demais para o meu gosto.
Porém, quase uma década depois, a sinopse de seu novo romance chamou-me a atenção e eu fiz um desejo (literalmente) no NetGalley pedindo um ARC (Advance Readers Copy) à editora e para minha surpresa, meu pedido foi concedido.
"Once ...more
Em 2010, após ler "Along For The Ride" da Sarah Dessen, basicamente apaguei todos os livros da autora da minha vida. Além de não ser muito fã de livros do gênero contemporâneo, a escrita de Dessen foi maçante demais para o meu gosto.
Porém, quase uma década depois, a sinopse de seu novo romance chamou-me a atenção e eu fiz um desejo (literalmente) no NetGalley pedindo um ARC (Advance Readers Copy) à editora e para minha surpresa, meu pedido foi concedido.
"Once ...more
Aug 20, 2016
Sierra Abrams
marked it as desperately-need-to-read
SHRIEKING IM SO HAPPY AND EXCITED AAAAHHH
As a teenager, I truly thought no one could write a contemporary like Sarah Dessen. I'm not sure if I'm romanticizing her earlier books, but this paled in comparison. The characters were flat, the plot seemed pointless, the romance was lame, and the writing style was extremely basic. The characters in this felt recycled - Louna was like the girl from The Truth About Forever and Ambrose was a low budget version of Dexter from This Lullaby. After this experience, I'm not sure if I should ever rere
...more
May 07, 2017
Hristina
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
best-of-the-best,
romance,
e-books,
chick-lit,
favorites,
ya-and-na,
reviewed,
first-read,
from-netgalley,
2017-faves
I actually waited till a month before the release to post this review. Applaud me for following the rules ;)
My first and only experience with Sarah Dessen's writing until now happened four years ago. I borrowed Someone Like You translated into Macedonian from the library, and I swore I'd never read another translation again. That experience threw me off reading Dessen too.
But this book introduced me again to her writing, and this time the right way. And don't worry, I'm gonna keep it short, blea ...more
My first and only experience with Sarah Dessen's writing until now happened four years ago. I borrowed Someone Like You translated into Macedonian from the library, and I swore I'd never read another translation again. That experience threw me off reading Dessen too.
But this book introduced me again to her writing, and this time the right way. And don't worry, I'm gonna keep it short, blea ...more
Aug 21, 2016
Madison (The Chronic Re-Reader)
marked it as to-read
Edited 02/06/2017
After Saint Anything and this blog post, I was worried that Sarah Dessen would never publish another book. Seeing as how she is one of my favorite authors, this was pretty heartbreaking to read. However, it seems I was worried for nothing!
Here are her tweets about the difficulties of writing ONCE AND FOR ALL:
After Saint Anything and this blog post, I was worried that Sarah Dessen would never publish another book. Seeing as how she is one of my favorite authors, this was pretty heartbreaking to read. However, it seems I was worried for nothing!
Here are her tweets about the difficulties of writing ONCE AND FOR ALL:
SO many lovely responses to the news of my new book. Number 13 was SO scary for me, for a lot of reasons. After Saint Anything, I wasn't......more
...sure I had another YA book in
trigger warning: school shootings
I really missed Sarah Dessen and her heartfelt novels. This one reminded me a lot of her older books, but I really liked it nevertheless. Although Saint Anything has better ratings, Once and for All seemed like a better read for me. Louna is a complex character who's dealing with a lot of things and the dynamic between her, her mom and William might be a bit peculiar, but I really connected with her and wanted to see how she develops throughout the novel.
"Eve...more
4.5 Stars
I have only recently discovered Sarah Dessen’s books, but I have enjoyed each one that I have picked up. I had high hopes for this one, and I can safely say that I was not let down. This book tells the story of a wedding planner’s daughter and contains a main character who is a real thinker. There are many flashbacks throughout the book, which add a lot of anticipation. Once and for All is a cutesy yet serious book that I am sure will appeal to everyone.
One of the main things that drew ...more
I have only recently discovered Sarah Dessen’s books, but I have enjoyed each one that I have picked up. I had high hopes for this one, and I can safely say that I was not let down. This book tells the story of a wedding planner’s daughter and contains a main character who is a real thinker. There are many flashbacks throughout the book, which add a lot of anticipation. Once and for All is a cutesy yet serious book that I am sure will appeal to everyone.
One of the main things that drew ...more
August 20, 2016: I'm actually tearing up. I started reading Sarah's books in middle school, right when things started to get, well, hard. The thought that this book will come out right after I graduate from High School, knowing that her books will truly take me all the way to the end of this journey, is making my heart swell. Let's do this, Dessen.
October 6, 2016: THE COVER!!! THE EXCERPT!!! It's all so Sarah Dessen!!!!!!
October 6, 2016: THE COVER!!! THE EXCERPT!!! It's all so Sarah Dessen!!!!!!
Love ... love ... love ... this is why Dessen is one of my favorite authors!! She tells a great story and has me falling for her characters.
More thoughts to come when I have time to gather them. For now, let's just say this will be one of my fave YAs this year. Yup! I'm pretty sure.
More thoughts to come when I have time to gather them. For now, let's just say this will be one of my fave YAs this year. Yup! I'm pretty sure.
THIS is what a Dessen novel felt like when i first found her books. i didn't enjoy her last book (Saint Anything) but this one made me so happy and giddy. The last few chapters could have been better but I'll take them as they are.
This is only my second try at a Sarah Dessen book, but I doubt I'm going to try any others. Don't get me wrong, it was heartfelt and lovely, just like everyone says, but I don't think they're for me.
I liked Louna well enough. She's got one hell of a backstory and those flashbacks were some of my favorite parts. I enjoyed the dynamic between Louna's mom and William and Louna. As for Ambrose, he's quirky and delightful and the much needed levity.
I did struggle with this story and yet somehow I k ...more
I liked Louna well enough. She's got one hell of a backstory and those flashbacks were some of my favorite parts. I enjoyed the dynamic between Louna's mom and William and Louna. As for Ambrose, he's quirky and delightful and the much needed levity.
I did struggle with this story and yet somehow I k ...more
"Once and For All" is Sarah Dessen's latest Young Adult (YA) book taking place in Lakeview. I have enjoyed slashed loved most of the books, though the latest couple of ones I read I was....perplexed by. Dessen is inconsistent for me as a reader which is why I have been making sure that I get all of her books via the library. I think if I had finally given in and bought this book like I was contemplating the other day, I would have broke something in a fit of nerd rage.
The main character in this ...more
The main character in this ...more
Jul 13, 2017
Jen Ryland
added it
So .... I liked this. Not quite as much as I hoped, but I did like it.
Once and For All felt a bit like a cross between That Summer and Just Listen. All three books feature weddings, serious girls, and the charming boys who try to win them over.
Here's my full analysis:
Main character: I liked Louna well enough and felt a lot of empathy for what she'd been through.
Love interest: Dexter definitely tops Ambrose for me. Ambrose somehow reminded me of Sumner more than Dexter - I felt he was more gli ...more
Once and For All felt a bit like a cross between That Summer and Just Listen. All three books feature weddings, serious girls, and the charming boys who try to win them over.
Here's my full analysis:
Main character: I liked Louna well enough and felt a lot of empathy for what she'd been through.
Love interest: Dexter definitely tops Ambrose for me. Ambrose somehow reminded me of Sumner more than Dexter - I felt he was more gli ...more
4.5./5 • i was in a huge reading slump when i began Once and for All, so i'm really surprised i binged it in two days. everything about the story was super cute! this was my first sarah dessen book (jk i read one in the early early days of YA and i remember NOTHING so i count this as my first) and there were lots of good things said; Once and for All didn't disappoint. it's a solid contemporary romance. there's nothing wrong with it, but it also didn't make me super emotional. the only complaint
...more
It was lovely to dive into another Sarah Dessen novel, particularly one as charming as ONCE AND FOR ALL. It does bear similarities to her other work in that the main character is a girl who is simply trying to work out her thoughts on love and happily ever afters, who is slowly opening herself back up to the world. As always, it's the elements that make it unique - and in this case, it was all about the wedding planning and I loved that! If there was one thing that took me out of the reading exp
...more
That second to last chapter was seriously weird and I'm still reeling a bit from that, but besides that, I loved ONCE AND FOR ALL! I mean, I did read it in one sitting. I can't remember the last time that happened. I need to gather my thoughts and who knows, I might just actually write a review for this one!
One of my top 3 fave Dessen books. I haven't loved the last 2 or 3 so this was a welcome read. Dessen got her groove back with this one. Really a great story. Review to come.
i have a soft spot in my heart for sarah dessen... she's one of the first YA authors that I truly loved, and she has continued to write things that pull at my heartstrings for years. this was no different! I loved louna and ambrose and natalie and william and jilly.... they were all wonderful characters, and I just thought this was a bittersweet and lovely story. <3
Feb 17, 2017
Rose
marked it as to-read-arc-or-galley
I'm way too happy about getting an ARC for this. *happy dances*
Jul 03, 2017
Scrill
marked it as dnf
DNF @ 15%
I'm sorry, I just don't want to read a book about wedding details. It's just not for me. I have been IN almost 10 weddings, and I don't really care about everything that goes along with it.
This was cute when JLo did it in The Wedding Planner and when Katherine Heigl did it in 27 Dresses. But I just can't sit here and read about a character gripe and complain about working with weddings. And if the antagonist is who I think he is, then I already hate the guy. I hate when guys just can't ...more
I'm sorry, I just don't want to read a book about wedding details. It's just not for me. I have been IN almost 10 weddings, and I don't really care about everything that goes along with it.
This was cute when JLo did it in The Wedding Planner and when Katherine Heigl did it in 27 Dresses. But I just can't sit here and read about a character gripe and complain about working with weddings. And if the antagonist is who I think he is, then I already hate the guy. I hate when guys just can't ...more
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| Young Adult Conte...: #27 Once and for All by Sarah Dessen | 11 | 18 | 17 hours, 15 min ago | |
| YA Buddy Readers'...: Once and For All by Sarah Dessen - Restarting July 9th 2017 | 30 | 51 | Jul 14, 2017 12:12AM | |
| Challenge Corner: Once and For All by Sarah Dessen ->Starting June 6th, 2017 | 32 | 22 | Jun 27, 2017 10:29AM |
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“I put my pen to the paper and began to write. I’d made so many wishes for so many couples quietly in my head as they drove away, but writing the words out made it seem more real, possible. For them, and maybe for me.
FOR YOU, I WISH FOR SECOND CHANCES.
I folded it shut, then put it on the wall before I could change my mind, right above Jilly’s. As Michael Salem called out to her and she started his way, I crossed the backyard, moving toward the music. When I looked back at the wish wall from a distance, it was a sea of squares: I couldn’t even find mine among them. So many things we ask for, hope for, prayers put out into a world so wide: there was no way they could all be answered. But you had to keep asking. If you didn’t, nothing even had a chance of coming true.”
—
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FOR YOU, I WISH FOR SECOND CHANCES.
I folded it shut, then put it on the wall before I could change my mind, right above Jilly’s. As Michael Salem called out to her and she started his way, I crossed the backyard, moving toward the music. When I looked back at the wish wall from a distance, it was a sea of squares: I couldn’t even find mine among them. So many things we ask for, hope for, prayers put out into a world so wide: there was no way they could all be answered. But you had to keep asking. If you didn’t, nothing even had a chance of coming true.”
“It's about the courage to go for what you want, not just what you think you need. Sometimes we don't even know what that is.”
—
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