Praise for Once and For All:

“Dessen crafts a wonderful, raw, emotional story of love and relationships that will have you savoring each and every page.” – Buzzfeed
 
“Once and For All is Dessen's thirteenth novel — and they just seem to get better and better every time….her impact in the world of YA literature is undeniable.” – Bustle
 
"Once and For All will fulfill every hope and dream Dessen’s fans may harbor.” – Travel + Leisure
 
“Sarah Dessen is the queen of heartfelt, YA…. so having her back just in time for beach season is a real treat.” – Cosmopolitan
 
“Sarah Dessen’s middle name is summer. Okay, not really, but she certainly knows how to write a killer summer romance.” – HelloGiggles
 
“Dessen is the queen of heartfelt summery books and Once and For All is no exception.”– Seventeen
 
“Sarah Dessen… remains a pro at dishing out novels that mix together heartache, hope, and love.” – Bookish
 
“Romance, humor, kindhearted characters, and a touch of painful reality make this another sure bet for Dessen fans.” – Kirkus Reviews
 
“Dessen, the newest recipient of the Margaret A. Edwards Award, offers up her thirteenth novel, and it’s everything readers have come to love about her work….no one else does summer love like Dessen.” – Booklist
 
“Dessen’s expertise at creating a character faced with change is once again on display in this book that reminds readers that love is measured ‘not in minutes but in moments.’”– VOYA


Praise for Sarah Dessen's writing:

"Is there anyone who can write about what matters most to teens as well as Dessen can?  I sincerely doubt it." —Jodi Picoult, New York Times bestselling novelist of Leaving Time and My Sister’s Keeper 

"Sarah Dessen is something of a rock star in young adult fiction. Her bestselling coming-of-age novels are warmly written explorations of teens in transition that are, by turns, questioning, humorous and hopeful." —Los Angeles Times

05/01/2017
Gr 9 Up—Louna's broken heart and her mother's cynical views on love and marriage have soured her on the idea of everlasting love. While working at her mother's wedding planning business, she meets Ambrose, whom she had to drag away from a girl so that he could escort his mother down the aisle. Louna is not thrilled when her mother hires Ambrose for the summer, but he is charming and spices up her usual summer routine. Louna prefers to date only when forced to by her best friend Jilly, while Ambrose plays the field nightly. Louna's disdain for Ambrose's escapades leads to a friendly wager—for the next seven weeks she will date around and he will commit to one person; the winner will choose the loser's next date. As the story unfolds, the truth of Louna's heartbreak is revealed one piece at a time, just as she admits her real feelings for Ambrose. Can she open her heart to love again? The answer is obvious, but nevertheless it is an enjoyable journey getting there. Secondary characters, such as Louna's mother, Jilly, and William, her mother's best friend and business partner, are well developed and add depth to the protagonist's past and present. However, an attempt at racial diversity falls flat with three separate descriptions of peripheral characters as black, while there is no other mention of race or ethnicity for any other character. VERDICT There is no question that this title will be popular with Dessen fans and romance lovers.—Kefira Phillipe, Nichols Middle School, Evanston, IL

Author Sarah Dessen is top-notch at fast-moving teen dialogue, and narrator Karissa Vacker is wonderful at delivering it. Vacker captures the witty sarcasm of Louna, who believes that the possibility of love is limited. Vacker nails the jaded attitude of an 18-year-old who’s been raised by a busy, problem-solving mother, a wedding planner extraordinaire. Vacker also reveals the deeper side of the hurt that underlies Louna’s views of love’s limitations. As Louna quickly rejects the romantic overtures of the wealthy, spoiled Ambrose, Vacker lets his genuine affection for her shine through despite Louna’s distain. The emotions that play out in this Dessen romance will captivate fans new and old. S.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine

2017-03-29
Louna finds her cynicism about romance challenged when her family's wedding business hires Ambrose.After years facing brides with cold feet and badly behaved wedding guests, Louna has become skeptical about romance and plans on remaining single during her last summer before college. Luckily, the busy wedding schedule provides plenty of legitimate excuses for Louna to avoid opportunities to meet potential dates. That changes when satisfying a particularly fussy bridal party requires hiring the bride's brother, Ambrose. He's a lady's man who typically charms more than one potential date during every social gathering. But he professes honesty about his dating motivations, expresses genuine interest in his dates, and displays a sort of oddly enchanting "aw, shucks" dismissal of his ability to reel in girls. Louna's outwardly dismayed by his antics, but his clichéd (but adorable) gestures, such as impulsively adopting a rescue dog, begin to win her over. However, Louna's still tormented by the unexpected death of her first love. Flashbacks to their relationship combined with the way she reluctantly accepts the need to move forward too provide a bittersweet counterpoint to the traditional rom-com storyline. Louna's lovingly depicted gay godfather provides a bit of diversity in the otherwise apparently straight, white cast. Romance, humor, kindhearted characters, and a touch of painful reality make this another sure bet for Dessen fans. (Romance. 12-16)