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For fifteen-year-old Haven, life is changing too quickly. She's nearly six feet tall, her father is getting remarried, and her sister&150the always perfect Ashley&150is planning a wedding of her own. Haven wishes things could just go back to the way they were. Then an old boyfriend of Ashley's reenters the picture, and through him, Haven sees the past for what it really was, and comes to grips with the future.
During the summer of her divorced father's remarriage and her sister's wedding, fifteen-year-old Haven comes into her own by letting go of the myths of the past.
As far back as she can remember, Dessen has always wanted to write. She remembers churning out wildly imaginative stories on an old manual typewriter her parents gave her when she was eight or nine years old. So it was only natural that after college she would forego a "real job," choosing instead to support herself by waiting tables at a local eatery while trying to publish a novel. In 1996, just three years after graduation, she sold her first book, the witty, wry coming-of-age story That Summer. A second novel, Someone Like You, followed two years later. (In 2003, these two books were loosely adapted into the movie How to Deal, starring teen sensation Mandy Moore.)
Dessen claims she never set out to be a YA writer, but somehow her memories always bring her back to high school, a time and place that resonates strongly for her. Living in her hometown where she is still in contact with many childhood friends, she finds it pretty easy to get in touch with her "inner teenager." In addition, the books she read from that time have a special, magical staying power. She explains it this way on her website:
"[W]hile I couldn't tell you complete plots of novels I read even six months ago, I do remember even the smallest descriptive details from Lois Lowry's A Summer to Die or Judy Blume's Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. I think it was because back then books were still somewhat new to me, and when I found an author who seemed to say just what I was feeling, it really struck me and resonated. I hope that my books do that for the people who read them."If one can judge from her growing fan base and continued presence on the bestseller lists, Dessen can safely say "mission accomplished."
readtolive_livetoread
Posted September 22, 2009
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This is the first novel Sarah Dessen ever published. It's very short but its a good read. It shows Sarah's style of writing pretty easily. She really dipitcs how a teenage girl thinks and the problems and struggles that goes on in our minds. Like all of her books this one has debth which is very unlike most chick teen novels. There is always a lessen learned at the end of the book.
The bad thing about this book is that it's very quick. I could give a quick overview in about 5 minutes and you would know the whole book. Nevertheless it's a good day read.
In lyrical and unforgettably graceful prose, Sarah Dessen's first novel is at first glance a dull and unsatisfying story, but the closer you read into it, you begin to see the connections and truths and metaphors hidden within every sentence. The characters are deep and dimensional, and though the plot is rather cliche at first, Sarah Dessen takes us to new heights. A story built solidly, spectacularly, and beautifully.
8 out of 9 people found this review helpful.
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Posted April 11, 2005
This book was okay. It was sort of disapointing after reading someone like you and this lullaby. But it wasnt bad, just not as good at the other books by Sarah Dessen.
5 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 20, 2008
I was very disappointed with this book. I stopped in the middle, it was so boring. This book does not keep you awake so I think you shouldn't read it. Take my advice!!!
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Wistful_Writer
Posted April 22, 2011
The book started off slow, but I decided to stick through it, considering how much rave her books were getting. Honestly this book was a huge disappointing, and a waste of my time. First off the height thing was almost mentioned one every single page, it was getting to be very annoying. Sure if she mentioned it once or twice i'd understand, but it was greatly overkilled. Secondly *SPOILER* she starts liking this guy. I thought it was cute and the relationship might go better than what i read in prev. Sarah Dessen books. WELL in the end it turns out he was a cheater, and it was just a HORRIBLE ending. Epes. since the whole book pretty much sets up for that moment and its devastatingly disappointing.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.This book was very much so a disapointment compared to most of Sarah Dessens other books. The book was very boring, but I kept reading it because I have read most of S.D. books and loved them, but this one never really got interesting at all. I was very disapointed after just finishing reading This Lullaby. It never quite got to the point and once it did I found it kind of stupid. It was not the worst book I hace ever read, but, more than likely, I would not re-read it.
3 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
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Posted January 14, 2012
This book is amazing!
Its wonderful and truly great!
I will read it again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Posted March 7, 2007
this book was horrible, the first Sarah Dessen book i read was The Truth about Forever and i feel in love with it, and then i read some of her other books and they were really good too but then i read this book and it was absolutely horrible it didn't even have a point to it it was one of her worst books in my opinion.
2 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I liked this book. It's about 15 year old Haven who's freakishly tall at almost 6 feet and is having a lot of family issues.Her mom and dad are divorced and it's summertime and she attends her father's wedding to the local weather girl that her mom calls the weather pet(who she finds out a month later is pregnant) She has to deal with her bratty older sister(Ashley) who is also getting married that summer.She meets up again with her sister's exboyfriend Sumner(who happens to be her favorite of all her sister's boyfriends) and thinks he's the only one who can make her feel like her life is normal. She goes back in her mind to the summer that her sister and Sumner were together and her life seemed happier. Haven finds herself and learns a few life lessons that summer!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted February 6, 2010
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This book was very good! The ending was a great surprise. Overall, it is a good book as are most of her writings. I would recommend this book to others.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.This book is just an ok book... Nothing majorly special or jaw-dropping... It is somewhat boring. I read the whole thing waiting for something amazing to happen but I was let down by the time I finished the book. This was my 2nd Sarah Dessen book (The first one I read was Someone Like You). I wouldn't recommend this to my friends like I did with Someone Like You. This is one of those books that you want it to be really good and fantastic but really, it's not. If you want to read/buy this book for the first time I suggest going to the library and checking it out. That way you won't waste your money.... Sorry but it's true...
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted July 23, 2008
I had to force myself to read the whole book. Sarah Dessen is my favorite author but this book sucks. She could have done much better than this. The concept is well but overall-- its boring. You wouldn't want to read this book if you read her other books. This is below disappointment in my book.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted May 27, 2007
it was one of the worst books i have read. it just kept going on and on about how horrible her life was, and a summer along time ago with her sister old boyfriend.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted January 30, 2007
This book was pretty good, not as good as some of her others. The middle was the best...i know that seems strange but it was kinda slow at the beginning and the end didn't really conclude anything
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted June 30, 2005
there was nothing special about this book. i really liked some of the authors previous books alot better. this one seemed to go on and on without a purpose.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted February 18, 2004
It was so boring! I mean the entire book was just her whining about her life. So her parents are divorced and her sister's getting married. BIG DEAL. Don't waste your time. Find something that's actually worth reading.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted January 22, 2002
It was a great book if you like what the subject, myself i'm more of a romance reader, do NOT read this book thinking you are going to get romance out cuz your not, it's just like a sister to sister kind of book.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted June 23, 2000
If I could rate this book any lower, believe me I would. Besides the swearing, and rude unnecessary comments that the characters make- the book is pointless, boring, and leaves you with no beginning or end! There is no plot, but if you had to make up one, it would run something along the lines of 'Haven's sister is getting married. Haven sees her sister's old boyfriend. The end.' This book left me in the worst mood ever- DONT EVEN WASTE YOUR MONEY! Go spend it on something worthwhile, like...
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Naj
Posted February 6, 2012
To be completely frank. I expected so much from this book only to be disappointed. I expected a book with more depth and a better plot. Okay, so there wasn't much of a plot. I've read other books that were equally plotless but this one I didn't like much at all. It lacked everything I wanted in a contemporary, young adult book. And seriously. I just feel bad about it. After the 100th page I started feeling like the story, or an inkling of it was going down hill from there.
This book is pretty much written for way younger readers below 14 years of age. And I'm hoping whoever read this below that age group were able to understand whatever morale Dessen has written it to give out.
That Summer is Sarah Dessen's debut novel and I'm pretty sure she has gotten better over the years. Since everyone loves her books. I'm going to go ahead and pick up her latest book and have at it. In hopes that her books have more depth and a lot more fluff!
Anonymous
Posted February 3, 2012
Like it but not like her others
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 22, 2012
I absolutly loved this book!!!!! I was extremely good and i cant wait to read more books by sara dessen!!!!
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Overview
For fifteen-year-old Haven, life is changing too quickly. She's nearly six feet tall, her father is getting remarried, and her sister&150the always perfect Ashley&150is planning a wedding of her own. Haven wishes things could just go back to the way they were. Then an old boyfriend of Ashley's reenters the picture, and through him, Haven sees the past for what it really was, and comes to grips with the future.
During the summer of her divorced father's remarriage and her sister's wedding, fifteen-year-old Haven comes into her own by letting go of the myths of the past.