The Truth About Forever

April 2021 review:
This book is so good, I'd give it a 10 stars... but that's not possible so I give it a 5...

This is probably my favorite go to comfort read at this point. I can already guarantee I'll read it again before the end of the year

June 2020 review:

For absolutely no reason other than because it can be, this is my favorite contemporary novel. There is absolutely nothing special about it, but it makes me so, so happy. And every single year, I pick it up again and reread it, wondering if I'll feel the same unconditional love for it, and I always do. I love it so much.

This review is also featured on Behind the Pages: The Truth About Forever

After the death of her father, Macy retreated into studies and work, building a shell to hide behind to deal with his death. Similarly, her mother began to pick up more projects and refused to talk about what happened the day he died. But things are about to change this Summer. Macy makes the last-minute decision to work for the catering company Wish. Instead of meticulous schedules and predictable outcomes, working for Wish is chaotic and a bit...fun. Meeting new friends and breaking free of the shell she built for herself, Macy is going to realize that it is ok to let go and just be herself.

The Truth About Forever has a slow start. Sarah Dessen focused on building up Macy's relationship with her father to establish an emotional impact on his death, but this could have been done in fewer words. It took too long to reach the main storyline. Macy has enough lingering guilt and flashbacks of her father's death to make the reader understand her perspective without the extra at the beginning of the story.

Macy is not a strong female lead. She has a lot of development to accomplish in this novel, and it is a struggle the entire way for her to grow. There were quite a few moments where she let people walk over her and this didn't sit well with me. However, I do understand that this was the character and the emotions I felt over her choices were most likely the ones Sarah Dessen was aiming for.

The story was pretty linear, nothing that was too unpredictable. I thought the characters were believable and the situations they were in realistic, but the ending left too much out in the open. I didn't feel like it came full circle and there was no sense of closure. Not a book I would read again.

I've now read 4 Sarah Dessen books and I think I can confidently, that eventually I will read all of them. Insta-read author here. I'm not sure if I'll love any as much as Just Listen, but you know what? This book was honestly spectacular.

It has a fantastic message about allowing yourself not to be perfect, to try new things, live for yourself, and about people grieving differently. Absolutely fantastic and I wish I had read this book as a teen. Sometimes it is nice to be reassured that the world doesn't rest on your shoulders.

I loved the characters, even the side characters which is something I think Sarah Dessen does really well with her books – bring life into all the characters. I will say that as much as I liked Wes, this personality is a bit... bland? He feels more like the cliche bad boy outside, but good guy inside, instead of an actual character.

What keeps this from being a five star is that the book felt really anti-climatic. There is some build up and things happen (of course), but everything is just sort of... handled. I don't need Macy yelling at her mom, but I could have done with a more impactful, emotional scene between the two of them showing that things were going to change.

It is cute, sweet, has quirky characters, and is definitely worth the read.

I don't think I have ever read (at least not that I can remember) a book that I connected with on such a personal level. This was the first book I have read by Sarah Dessen and it definitely will not be the last. When I started reading this book I had an immediate connection to the main character Macy. I related to her in the since that I just lost my dad recently and I understood so much of what she was feeling an going through. I don't understand why Macy kept working at the library after everything if it was me I would have left after the first day. I kind of would have liked to know Jasons reaction to Macy and Wes at the end of the book. He was my least favorite character I really just could not stand him.

Even though I want more Wes and Macy, but I still think that Sarah has given perfect portion for everything. The catering and everyone in it, Macy's family, and Jason. This one is just awesome. I'm Sarah's new reader and I'm fascinated by The Truth About Forever. I'll read more of her books!

One of my absolute, all-time favorite books ever, hahaha. Seriously, a good book. Sarah Dessen in general is a great author.

Loved it!