Once and For All by Sarah Dessen ->Starting June 6th, 2017

[C.P.]

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

Sarah Dessen’s many, many fans will adore her latest, a richly satisfying, enormously entertaining story that has everything—humor, romance, and an ending both happy and imperfect, just like life itself.

[Jackie]

Can't wait to start this!:)

[C.P.]

Me either!

[C.P.]

My copy came! Will be starting tonight, even with my ever growing pile of "currently-reading" books!

[Jackie]

Ahaha. :) I'll join you soon.

[C.P.]

Fantastic. :D

[Jackie]

I really want to start now, but school comes first, so probs not until the weekend. Sorry.

[C.P.]

No worries!

[Maya]

Hey y'all I read a little sampler of this, as I won't be getting it until tomorrow. It seems good so far!! (view spoiler)[It's kinda weird though, 'cause part of how she's talking about Ethan is making me think he died. Then again it also doesn't seem like he died I don't really know how to describe it, but it's definitely making me curious. (hide spoiler)]

[Jackie]

Awesome! Can't wait to start. :)

[C.P.]

Read the first two chapters. I'm liking it fairly well so far. (view spoiler)[Ambrose doesn't really seem likeable, so it'll be interesting to see that develop. (hide spoiler)]

[C.P.]

I read through chapter 6. (view spoiler)[This is more modern/world involved than any of her other books. It's sad that Ethan died in a shooting (I assume). Definitely not what I would have expected from the description. (hide spoiler)]

[C.P.]

Through chapter 11. (view spoiler)[I don't like Ambrose's serial dating. Really, he's just a jerk with some nice qualities. I don't know what to think about him.

And I feel bad for Louna with the Ethan thing (still waiting for a few more details there), but that instalove was a little intense. (hide spoiler)]

[C.P.]

Through chapter 16. (view spoiler)[How can thid wrap up? There doesn't seem to be enough time. I guess Ambrose likes Louna...maybe? There's really not much there.

And that instalove! Seriously. I don't care if it really does happen, I like to think that even people who fall in love on first meeting aren't this extreme.

Despite these thoughts, I am enjoying this. Just not in the ways or as much as I had hoped. (hide spoiler)]

[C.P.]

Through chapter 23. (view spoiler)[Obviously he was going to find out. You should have just told him earlier! I get it, in a lot of ways, but still.

And I am not really a fan of this bet. I mean, what was the deal with Lauren? It's a jerk move to be so commited (I mean, somewhat) to her and then want to tell Louna how he felt about her right when they split...I guess I'm just not feeling the games involved here. (hide spoiler)]

[C.P.]

Just finished. Not sure what to think of this one, honestly. (view spoiler)[I really don't like how Louna and Ambrose handled relationships with other people. And the end felt really rushed to me. There are things I like, but this definitely isn't my favorite Dessen. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

I know I'm late to the buddy read, but I'm hoping to still post here and see your spoilers as I go! I plan to finish it tonight :)

[C.P.]

Perfect!

[Trisha]

11 chapters

Ambrose(view spoiler)[ I agree, i am just not connecting with him. I don't like him at all. I don't find his confidence endearing or his little mannerisms cute. he's frustrating and annoying (hide spoiler)]

Louna(view spoiler)[ I'm sure she's supposed to end up with Ambrose but I want to see more from him (hide spoiler)]
Ethan(view spoiler)[ he sounds like he was very sweet
I'm so sad that he was killed so young - in what I would assume would be a school shooting (hide spoiler)]

Bet(view spoiler)[ Yikes, tough bet. I hope she finds someone better than Ambrose. I like Jilly and her ragtag group of siblings (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

16 chapters

Ethan(view spoiler)[ I agree they were pretty insta love. but I can tell you, I met my husband, love at first sight. Good thing we didn't have so much distance between us. We've been together, I think, almost 20 years - once we met, we were barely apart (and that's even true now). There love story really does sound for the ages - like it was something real and true. so when I compare him to Ambrose, I just want to scream. Ambrose just sucks (hide spoiler)]

Louna(view spoiler)[ I loved her meeting Matt, the guy flirting with William

that was adorable. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

and I'm done

I agree, not my favorite Dessen (and I normally love her)

i was lucky enough to see her at a book festival this last summer - and she talked about how she wasn't sure how many more books she would be publishing, just because she was getting older and worried she would be out of touch with what teens were going through..
Fingers crossed she doesn't stop! I love her books, even if they aren't all 5 stars, they are still so fun to slide into and enjoy

I really did like(view spoiler)[ the wedding parts of the book. I thought I would be annoyed with all the wedding talk but I love how seamlessly it was worked into Louna's life and how it jaded her thoughts. I loved all her wishes to the bride and groom and how she always looked for that last look/moment to see if they would make it (hide spoiler)]

I think by far, my biggest frustration(view spoiler)[ was not even with how poorly they treated those they were dating

but that I didn't buy that Ambrose was a long term thing. he could barely commit to his dog - he even pawned that guy off all the time with whatever friend/girl he was flirting with/dating. He even used him to help manipulate girls

I just didn't buy him easily settling down for Louna. I mean, some girls are the type that hope their guy will change just for them
but I don't buy it. and Ambrose flirting and lacking commitment seems like it would be a deal breaker for Louna.....I just didn't see them lasting....
and I hated that Jilly seemed to turn on her at the end, dodging hanging out with her.....but I did see that with Ambrose's life in peril, that Louna would decide to give them a chance. I didn't see that coming at all (her thinking he'd been hit by the car....) (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

thanks for letting me crash your guys' buddy read! :) I loved reading your spoilers!

[C.P.]

Glad you did, Trisha! I'll check out all your spoilers later on my computer.

I generally really like Dessen's books as well. I think she tried too hard with certain aspects of this. I really hope she continues writing as well. I've read all of her books and would like to read more! This one, though, is probably down with That Summer for my least favorite.

[C.P.]

Trisha, I'm so glad to see your thoughts! (view spoiler)[I totally get your thoughts on Ambrose. I don't see that being a lasting thing either. And there wasn't even any chemistry between them. It seemed to come out of nowhere, honestly. And you're right. I hadn't thought much about him pawning the dog off, but he did that all the time. In my head, after reading the description. I imagined that he was trying to win her over the entire time, which would have made a nice story (with a few alterations in his character), but I didn't get that from this at all...

And I think that it's cute that you and your husband were love at first sight! I definitely see that it's possible, I just think it took things a little too far here. Them having sex was one thing that kind of pushed it over the top for me...but that's not something I would EVER do with a guy I just met, no matter how much I thought I was falling in love with him. If that had been taken out, I think I would have been a little more ok with the insta love. (hide spoiler)]

I am very conflicted about this book, to be honest. But I do hope we get more from her in the future!

[Trisha]

C.P. wrote: "Trisha, I'm so glad to see your thoughts! ..."

YES(view spoiler)[ I completely agree about the sex part. I kind of glazed over that part but that is such a good point - too quick too soon... (hide spoiler)]

[C.P.]

Trisha wrote: "C.P. wrote: "Trisha, I'm so glad to see your thoughts! ..."

YES[spoilers removed]"

Yeah, that part really pushed it too gar for me.

[Jackie]

I just finished This Lullaby, so I'll be starting this one next.

[C.P.]

Hope you enjoy!

[Jackie]

Thanks. I plan on posting my thoughts on here as I go.

[C.P.]

Good. I'll keep up with them. :)

[Maya]

I'm not sure I'm going to read this one. It seems like it's not the best Sarah Dessen book and I've never read any of her books. So I think I would want to start off with one of her better books. If that makes sense.

[C.P.]

It does. I've read them all and this is probably among her two lowest (in my opinion). I would suggest starting with Lock and Key, Saint Anything, or The Truth About Forever. :)