The Rest of the Story by Sarah Dessen - Restarting August 3rd 2019

[Aly]

Emma Saylor doesn’t remember a lot about her mother, who died when she was ten. But she does remember the stories her mom told her about the big lake that went on forever, with cold, clear water and mossy trees at the edges.

Now it’s just Emma and her dad, and life is good, if a little predictable…until Emma is unexpectedly sent to spend the summer with her mother’s family—her grandmother and cousins she hasn’t seen since she was a little girl.

When Emma arrives at North Lake, she realizes there are actually two very different communities there. Her mother grew up in working class North Lake, while her dad spent summers in the wealthier Lake North resort. The more time Emma spends there, the more it starts to feel like she is divided into two people as well. To her father, she is Emma. But to her new family, she is Saylor, the name her mother always called her.

Then there’s Roo, the boy who was her very best friend when she was little. Roo holds the key to her family’s history, and slowly, he helps her put the pieces together about her past. It’s hard not to get caught up in the magic of North Lake—and Saylor finds herself falling under Roo’s spell as well.

For Saylor, it’s like a whole new world is opening up to her. But when it’s time to go back home, which side of her will win out?

[Rachael]

Starting now!

[Aly]

Nice! I'm hoping to start tomorrow

[Rachael]

Sarah Dessen definitely has a style and this book starts out feeling like one of her stories... in so excited to unravel all the pieces!

[Rachael]

Through chapter 8 - pace is kind of slow but the characters are building

[Aly]

Hopefully it picks up soon

[Aly]

chapter 7 (view spoiler)[ It's gotta be weird for Emma/Sailor being around all this family that you don't know. I'm glad she stood up for herself to the pregnant cousin (who's name I can't remember) (hide spoiler)]

[Rachael]

Chapter 12 (view spoiler)[ wow that was a total dick move of Colin to not show up.. apparently he has a girlfriend?? We already knew Blake was a self centered average male aka nothing special but the way he handled that whole situation was just rude. I’m glad Jack and Roo were there to witness it so they could start trying to turn the night around for them. I am liking Roo & Emma Saylor together and excited to see that blossom with stupid Blake out of the way (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Agreed!
Chapter 13 (view spoiler)[ Colin is a douchebag. Bailey can do way better than him. Sailor and Roo are freaking cute together and I hope she can convince her dad to let her stay for the summer so she and Roo have a shot (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Chapter 20 (view spoiler)[ I know Sailor messed up by getting drunk and I get that her dad would be mad about that, but before that he wasn't being compromising and letting her see her family. It's like he'd rather she was cut off from them because he thinks she'll turn out like her mom? I hope Sailor and her dad can have an honest conversation and he can chill out (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Finished! I really enjoyed this! It had a lot of classic Sarah Dessen elements, but it was a new story. (view spoiler)[I'm glad that the storm helped bring everyone together and Sailor and Roo got together. (hide spoiler)]

[Rachael]

Chapter 14 (view spoiler)[boo Saylor’s dad is being kinda gruff about her staying at the lake.. I feel like it’s probably always been an outside at the lake (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 17 (view spoiler)[ hmm her dads reaction to “Chris Price’s sin was interesting... Chris and Waverly definitely had a romantic relationship, probably her dad partially blames him for their divorce (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 18 (view spoiler)[ friend coming out seems kind of random (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 19 (view spoiler)[ ugh Saylors dad is killing me

Unfortunately this book has kind of slow down my reading streak.. I was reading one book every one or two days but this one is taking me almost a week to finish (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Oh no, I'm sorry you're having a hard time getting through this. I listened to it, which helped me get through quicker.

[Rachael]

All done! This was just a 3 star read for me.. I will get my review posted up shortly.

[Andrea]

I love Sarah Dessen! I'm hoping the book lives up to her other books, as the reviews haven't been as good and when I bought the book today it looks real short, so I'll be starting tomorrow...

[Aly]

I liked it a lot!

[Karen]

Up to ch8. I see what you mean when you say it’s a bit slow-paced at this point, but I think it’s very naturally presented. Definitely wondering about Emma and Roo.

[Andrea]

Chapter 7 (view spoiler)[ A little slower pace then her other books, but also a pretty fast read so far. Roo seems like the only one giving Emma a chance so far, and she really hasn't done anything. Anyone ever hear about the phrase, don't judge a book by the cover... (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

I love Roo!

[Andrea]

Chapter 12 (view spoiler)[ So it's still not picking up all that much. I'm also not impressed with the Emma, Blake situation. Or is it Colin? The boys just play an unnecessary part, but maybe there will be a reason for it at the dance.... (hide spoiler)]

[Karen]

Up to ch13. The name thing is like a re-invention. Everyone needs a Roo-such a calming positive character.

[Karen]

Up to ch18. Got a sinking feeling about this party. Don’t understand why her dad is being so awkward.

[Karen]

Up to ch22. There’s a real sense of familiarity to this story, even though they’re new characters.

[Karen]

Finished. Review on home page. Quite simple, but satisfying.

[Andrea]

Chapter 18 (view spoiler)[ Why is her dad so secretive and possessive, it would drive me crazy if I was Emma. Speaking of Emma, she knows she will get caught if she lies and sneaks out, but maybe then her dad will finally get the hint. (hide spoiler)]

[Andrea]

Finished (view spoiler)[ Not my favorite Sarah Dessen book. It kind of missed the mark for me. Usually I have smiles or tears on my face, but it didn't really pull any heartstrings for me this time around. I feel like Trinity was the only really well established character. Emma would have been, but I think the "party" chapter just wasn't up to what it could have been. Then the tornado/hurricane chapter felt too rushed, although I get it was "supposed" to feel that way but there just wasn't a lot of imagery or details for me it was just like we are leaving, get into car, tree, get into truck, drive to house, find gordon, sit and wait" with longer sentences to sum it up. All in all I was disappointed, maybe for young adult readers who aren't as familiar with other works by her or other authors who can really tap into emotions, then it would be a better book. (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah Elizabeth]

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Date changed. Restarting August 3rd 2019. Happy Reading ☺

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[Jaye]

Oh my god I tried so hard but I think I fell asleep twice.

[janel]

Jaye wrote: "Oh my god I tried so hard but I think I fell asleep twice."

Omg right?? I've read Sarah Dessen before bu it's been years, and I was stunned at how boring this was

[Jaye]

This was just so boring to me oh man. (view spoiler)[ I think I wanted more much romance instead of this messyness? Like when I want a cute contemp I want a cute contemp not a girl going out with one guy while thinking of another guy (and being jealous of a girl flirting with him) (hide spoiler)]

[Jaye]

turniip wrote: "Jaye wrote: "Oh my god I tried so hard but I think I fell asleep twice."

Omg right?? I've read Sarah Dessen before bu it's been years, and I was stunned at how boring this was"

Right? Like oh yay! More sailing and talking and partying, oooh. Yawn

[janel]

Jaye wrote: "This was just so boring to me oh man. [spoilers removed]"

yeah honestly in regards to what you said, (view spoiler)[emotional cheating is just as nasty to me as actual cheating and it just feels like I'm going in for a cute contemp and i'm getting smacked around by my own moral code instead (hide spoiler)]

[Jaye]

ALSO I'm not saying that emma/saylor mentioned something that sounded a lot like ocd and how it went away when she went to lake north and made friends but uh.... pretty sure she said that and was worried about it "coming back" when she left???

[janel]

The family dynamics in this were actually pretty good, but there was just so much of it that I got a bit overwhelmed.

[Jaye]

turniip wrote: "Jaye wrote: "This was just so boring to me oh man. [spoilers removed]"

yeah honestly in regards to what you said, [spoilers removed]"


Exactly, plus when he was just there JUST to be an obstacle instead of an actual character lol. Sure she could have made up another reason they couldn't have gotten together sooner but ew I hated that.

[janel]

Jaye wrote: "turniip wrote: "Jaye wrote: "plus when he was just there JUST to be an obstacle instead of an actual character lol"

Exactly! Exactly, I need to care about people and the only reason I cared about him was because he was being treated so shittily, but there was nothing else to him - real characters WHOMST

[Jaye]

turniip wrote: "The family dynamics in this were actually pretty good, but there was just so much of it that I got a bit overwhelmed."


Yeah I think the family was the only thing I liked but oh god so many.