Top Ten Tuesday: Book Adaptations

Top Ten Tuesday is weekly meme created by the lovely folks at The Broke and the Bookish. They created it because they're "particularly fond of lists" and since I also enjoy lists, I've decided to participate in this fun feature.

Ah, book adaptations. This is something book lovers can debate for hours, I think. I know books and movies are two separate things. I understand when things need to be changed, adjusted, or altered. What works in a book doesn't necessarily work in a movie. I get it. What I don't like is when the strangest things are changed or the overall feel of the story is changed. I've done a combo list this week and have included some of my favourite and least favourite adaptations. A note on the least favourite: I did enjoy the movies but I just felt like they were lacking in some way, which I've tried to explain. What are some of favourites or least favourites when it comes to book to film adaptations?

Don't forget to check out their blog for a full list of everyone participating this week!

Least Favourite (in no particular order):

The Last Song/Dear John
I didn't like that some important (in my eyes) details were left out of The Last Song and I really didn't understand why they felt the need to change the ending of Dear John.

The Time Traveler's Wife
Amazing book, not very good movie (sorry Rachel McAdams).

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2
I like the movie, I really do. But. Trying to combine three books into one movie? How do you decide what's left out and what's included?

Angels and Demons
To this day, this is the only movie that I've come out of saying "WTF?" in terms of what was changed. It was just odd.

Confessions of a Shopaholic
Why oh why did they have to put her in the US? The movie still could have worked with her in London. See: Bridget Jones's Diary.

Favourite (again, in no particular order):

The Notebook/A Walk to Remember
I like these two way more than the books. The eye candy doesn't hurt either.

The Princess Diaries
Ditto. Besides: Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews? Amazing.

The Hunger Games
I thought this was a really well done adaptation. Here's hoping Catching Fire will be just as good!

Under the Tuscan Sun
This was another one that I liked more than the book. It's also very different. But I will willingly watch the film over and over again but it took me ages to read the book. That says a lot, I think.

The Help
Another adaptation that I thought was really well done.

Final Fun Fact: I own all of the above movies except for Angels and Demons!

CLP Blog Tour: Tales from the Laundry Pile

I couldn't be happier to be kicking off the CLP Blog Tour for Kathleen Kole's novel Tales from the Laundry Pile. I've read and enjoyed all of Kole's previous novels and I'm happy to say that I really liked her latest as well!

Here's the synopsis:

Claire Jamieson has moved back home to Boxwood Hills... And, she's not alone. Trailing behind her overworked laundry basket is her husband and their energetic twin boys.
Claire had always thought that once she'd left the nest, she'd never return. Now that she has, she's wondering what type of bird that makes her... Cuckoo?
When she has a moment to pause and catch her breath, she'll let you know.

I was really looking forward to the fact that this book would be set in Boxwood Hills because I was sure characters from previous novels would make appearances. Happily, I was right! Claire becomes good friends with Jessica (from Dollars to Donuts) and Thomas (who, I believe, appears in a couple of books) plays a hilarious role in the story. I couldn't wait for Thomas and Josephine (Claire's mom) to meet because I knew the result would be amusing. I also loved all the scenes with Thomas and Claire's twin boys. He's such a rough-around-the-edges character that it was sweet and funny to read as he interacted with four and a half year old boys.

I felt like I was constantly giggling throughout this novel. There were so many scenes that were ridiculous (in a good way) and had me laughing out loud. That being said...the novel was all fun and games. Claire had a lot of issues to work through that all stem from needing to be perfect and have everything in order. She has an incredibly judgemental mother in law (ugh, that woman drove me up the wall. I wished I could give her a talking to on behalf of Claire.) and her own mother appears to be flighty and unconcerned about appearances and consequences. Claire had a great support system though. Jake seems like a fabulous husband and father and Jessica turned out to be an amazing friend. I have to say, though, that it was sometimes hard to read about how uptight Claire was in the beginning. Maybe it's because I just couldn't understand how she'd demand perfection when she has twin boys. This was a minor issue though and I really liked reading about how Claire changed herself for the better.

Tales from the Laundry Pile was a really enjoyable read. It's not my favourite of Kathleen Kole's (that honour goes to Favorable Conditions) but I still liked reading it. Check back on Thursday when Kathleen stops by with a great guest post!

Happy reading :)

Touring My Bookshelves: Shelf #3

Welcome to another stop on my bookshelf tour! Today we're back in Midland at my mom's place. The theme of this stop is super awesome books. Most of the books on this shelf have found their way there because I loved them and thought my mom (or my sister or my grandma) would enjoy them, too.

Everyone wave to Jemima Puddle-Duck and Mr. Moose (I just named him that, hence the lack of originality). To further set the scene, these are the bottom two shelves of a large shelf that is in my mom's living room.

Most of these books are classified as "Mom, You Must Read These". Though - an anomaly in Midland - there are also two books that I haven't read yet myself! I bought The Heist Society at a massive book sale and The Rescue at the library bookstore in Midland but haven't read them yet. I'm sure part of the reason is because they're in Midland and I am not! I think my favourite on this shelf is Second Time Around by Beth Kendrick, followed closely by The Single Girl's To-Do List by Lindsey Kelk. A book that's special to me is Wye Write Again. It's a book of short stories and some of my best friend's stories are included!

Now this one is a good shelf. It features three of my favourite authors (Emily Giffin, Catherine McKenzie, and Sophie Kinsella) as well as a ton of just excellent books. There are also a couple of non-fiction books in here, too. The Tall Book was awesome (if you're tall, read it!), Happier at Home was enjoyable, and The Age of Persuasion is so interesting and appeals to my particular brand of nerdiness as it's all about advertising. That one is actually signed as I met author Terry O'Reilly (and his lovely wife) at a bookish festival a few years ago. Awesome guy.

There's almost a little something for everyone on this shelf. The non-fiction I mentioned above, chick lit (check out Breaking the Rules - my favourite from 2012), women's fiction (Swimming at Night was amazing), and romance (Nora Roberts, of course, and Sherryl Woods' new series).

As a bonus, here's a shelf of books that have moved from Barrie to Midland when I moved to St. Catharines (yeah, I've moved around the province!).

It's a bit of a hodgepodge of books and includes a hedgehog as a further bonus! These were ones I had read or bought when I was in Barrie. There were more but some have seemed to migrate back to St. Catharines.

And there we have it! Hopefully I've helped you find some new reads (that second shelf has a ton of good ones, trust me!) and entertained you with this tour. I have one more (big!) shelf to show off so I'll put that post up in a couple of weeks.

Happy reading! :)

Review: Lost Without You

Lost Without You is the newly released final book in a great romance series by Heather Thurmeier. I read and loved the first two novels, Falling for You and Stuck on You (links lead to reviews), and couldn't wait to see how the series turned out!

Here's the synopsis:

Zoe Oliver never wanted to be on another reality TV show… until Chip Cormack made an offer too good to refuse. He’s guaranteed her a payday this time and a chance to redeem herself in America’s eyes. But Zoe worries she won’t be able to focus as her desire for Chip grows and her strength to resist him weakens. When she learns she’ll be roughing it in the woods with Chip and without luxuries like indoor plumbing and electricity, she’s instantly on edge, feeling naked and terrified that her scars will be exposed and her secrets revealed. When Zoe’s past turns up on the show, she fears she’ll lose not only the life she’s sacrificed everything else to have, but also the affections of the only man she’s ever trusted with her heart.

The thing that makes this series different than a lot of other romance books is the setting. Each novel takes place during a reality show. How fun is that? The final book features a Survivor-esque show that really pushes the contestants to the limits. What makes it different than the other books is that Zoe, the heroine of book three, isn't actually a contestant, she's the host. The show still plays a large part in the story as she does have to watch each challenge and even participate in small ways (I don't want to think too much about the cooking she had to taste during one challenge). This made things fun and it complemented the other part of the story - the romance!

I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about Chip and Zoe getting together. I pictured him as a pretentious and snobby (redundant?) producer and I wasn't sure if I wanted to read about him. Turns out I was wrong about Chip. As soon as the book started I was assured that he was absolutely crazy about Zoe and had been trying to hide those feelings for years. I liked that Thurmeier touched on how he had changed which helped reconcile the two Chips I had in my head. As I read on, I realized that the relationship between Zoe and Chip totally made sense and I found myself rooting for them. I could see that they had great chemistry. Of course, the scene in the waterfall didn't hurt matters! ;)

I had told Heather that I couldn't wait to read the final book because I wanted to get the full story about Zoe's past. We got hints of it in the second book, Stuck on You, and that helped me see that Zoe wasn't the huge bitch that I thought she was. She's just intensely guarded. That impression was confirmed as I read this book. I don't want to give anything away for those who haven't read the previous two books but just know that Zoe really is a good person. She was sexy, sarcastic, and real and I really loved reading her story.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading Lost Without You. Heather Thurmeier did a great job of sharing Zoe's story and wrapping up the series. I'm sad to see these characters go but I'm happy they all got the endings they deserved.

Happy reading! :)

*A copy of this novel was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*

Review: Crazy Rich Asians

Every once and awhile a book will come along that completely surprises me. Crazy Rich Asians was one of those books for me. I had been hearing great things about Kevin Kwan's debut novel for months because of my internship at Random House but wasn't sure how I'd feel about it. It turns out I thoroughly enjoyed it and didn't want to put it down! Fun story: I actually got the chance to (briefly) meet Kwan when he was at the RHC offices in Toronto earlier this year.

Here's the synopsis:

Crazy Rich Asians is the outrageously funny debut novel about three super-rich, pedigreed Chinese families and the gossip, backbiting, and scheming that occurs when the heir to one of the most massive fortunes in Asia brings home his ABC (American-born Chinese) girlfriend to the wedding of the season.When Rachel Chu agrees to spend the summer in Singapore with her boyfriend, Nicholas Young, she envisions a humble family home, long drives to explore the island, and quality time with the man she might one day marry. What she doesn't know is that Nick's family home happens to look like a palace, that she'll ride in more private planes than cars, and that with one of Asia's most eligible bachelors on her arm, Rachel might as well have a target on her back. Initiated into a world of dynastic splendor beyond imagination, Rachel meets Astrid, the It Girl of Singapore society; Eddie, whose family practically lives in the pages of the Hong Kong socialite magazines; and Eleanor, Nick's formidable mother, a woman who has very strong feelings about who her son should--and should not--marry. Uproarious, addictive, and filled with jaw-dropping opulence, Crazy Rich Asians is an insider's look at the Asian JetSet; a perfect depiction of the clash between old money and new money; between Overseas Chinese and Mainland Chinese; and a fabulous novel about what it means to be young, in love, and gloriously, crazily rich.

I was addicted to this story. There's really no other way to put it. It was funny without being a comedy and it was dramatic without being serious. My friend and I were trying to put a label on it (because apparently that's what readers need to do) and we couldn't find a subgenre for this book to fit into. I really haven't read a book like this before and I think that's what made it so awesome. I liked that there was a bit of everything in this book. There was love, romance, and weddings. There was family and the drama that inevitably comes along with it. Then there were also friends and frenemies and all kind of hijinks (there were bachelor and bachelorette parties during this book - of course there were hijinks!). Everything was balanced and the story was told well.

There's some minor confusion with trying to keep the families straight and figuring out who was related to who but the family tree at the beginning of the book really helped. My same friend also pointed out that it was fine that we were confused by the family relationships because Rachel was also confused. She made a great point. Usually things were spelled out for Rachel because she had no idea who was who and that meant that we, the reader, were also given more info and time to figure out the connections.

I liked that we got to see behind the scenes of many different family members. The core story was Nick and Rachel's but getting to see how others were living their crazy rich lives, was really interesting. Having this insider knowledge really helped me understand why some of the characters were acting the way they were. True, some of them were kind of completely nuts and I didn't get why they were being so cruel, but at least I had all the info on their motives. Having the spotlight on other people helped create a really well rounded story.

If you're looking to read at least one fabulous book this summer, make it Crazy Rich Asians. Kevin Kwan's novel has everything you need for a great summer book and I think it's one that everyone can enjoy. And after reading this Entertainment Weekly interview, I'm really hoping he does decide to turn this into a trilogy!

Happy reading :)

Project Bookmark Canada Internship Wrap Up

Well, friends, my life as an intern has officially come to an end. My last day of interning at Project Bookmark Canada was June 21 and, truthfully, I wanted to wait to post a final update because I had hoped I might have some exciting job news. No such luck, unfortunately, but I'll get into that more at the end of this post. For now, I'll update you on what I did since my last internship post (which you can read here if you missed it).

As I mentioned before, one of the major things I did for Bookmark was read books set in Calgary to see if any could be potential Bookmarks. I was a one woman reading machine with a goal of building a database! This was probably my favourite part of my internship - and not just because I was allowed to read all day (though that was an awesome bonus). I got to read about a city that I've never been to and visit it through the eyes of the authors. Sometimes there weren't any mentions of the city and sometimes very specific Calgary landmarks popped up (Nose Hill, the Bow River, Stampede grounds, and so on).

There were a few books that mentioned the town of Frank and the massive rock slide that demolished the city years ago (Googling...it happened in 1903). I found this interesting and so sad but I never looked into the history of it (which is why I just had to look up when it happened). The first (and, I admit, only) time I saw a picture of the slide was when author Angie Abdou tweeted a picture of her kids at the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre. (If her name sounds familiar it's because I read (and loved) her novel The Bone Cage and mentioned it in my last update.) Isn't that picture crazy? This exchange also makes me love Twitter even more. Thanks for sharing the pictures and info, Angie!

Because I'm sure you're oh so curious, here's the list of books I read over the course of my internship:

419 - Ferguson, Will (good but not my kind of book. I'm not surprised it won the Giller Prize)                                        

Fishing for Bacon - Davie, Michael 

Outcasts of River Falls - Guest, Jacqueline

Feather Brain - Bush, Maureen

Man & Other Natural Disasters - Parry, Nerys

Deadly Fall - Calder, Susan

Cleavage - Bischoff, Theanna

Kalila - Nixon, Rosemary

Roost - Bryan, Ali (great novel for moms, not so much for a 26 year old)

The Shore Girl - Kimmel, Fran

Iced Romance - Boyd, Whitney

Love Minus Zero - Hahnel, Lori (a really neat book about the Calgary punk scene in the 80s)

Swallow - Bischoff, Theanna (great read)

Poltergeeks  - Cummings, Sean

The Enchantment Emporium - Huff, Tanya (if you're a fantasy lover, read this one!)

The Space Between Us - Martinez, Jessica (a really enjoyable YA read)

Queen's Park - Ryan, Garry

Cobalt Blue: Stories - Borsky, Mary

Monoceros - Mayr, Suzette

The Bone Cage - Abdou, Angie (loved loved loved)

Reading these twenty books helped me see how varied Canadian literature can be. I used to always think it was boring and/or confusing literary fiction. Don't get me wrong, some of the above books fell into that category and I struggled to get through them. Others, though, were quite enjoyable. 

Speaking of building a database, if you read any Canadian fiction and think it would be suitable for a Bookmark let me know! I can pass it along to Miranda. Or, if you're really interested in donating or helping out, visit their site and learn more about becoming involved.

During my non-working hours I also tried to read some the books that already have Bookmarks. I only managed to read three of the twelve but I think that's pretty good considering all the other reading I had to do! I read Garbo Laughs by Elizabeth Hay (the Bookmark is in Ottawa. I briefly saw while driving by when I was visiting my friend in April), The Queen of Unforgetting by Sylvia Maultash Warsh (this is the book set in Midland, my hometown), and Sailor Girl by Sheree-Lee Olson (this Bookmark is in Port Colborne, near Niagara Falls). Reading these books, especially the latter two, really made me realize how awesome Project Bookmark Canada is. I was so excited when places I knew popped up in the books. The more Bookmarks we have in place, the more novels, poems, and short stories we can highlight, and the more cities and towns we can celebrate. (Yes, I notice that I'm still using "we"...) When I was reading Sailor Girl, a book that has the main character working on ships, I was really excited when Midland was mentioned. So much so that I had to take pictures:

I went to Port Colborne the weekend after I finished reading the book and knew I had to stop by the Bookmark. I think being able to do that is just so cool!

Another little perk, other than being able to work from home and read books all day, was getting a Bookmark t-shirt!

Don't I look snazzy? :)

Over the last couple of weeks of my internship I did more admin stuff for Miranda (more accounting type things that really made our brains hurt), more researching (I learned about Library Way in New York City), and thought up some ideas for a project Miranda is working on (secretive, I know, but I'll share as soon as she launches it!).

So, where am I now? I've been unemployed for the past week and haven't had much luck jobwise. I had a brief spike of hope when I had a prescreening phone call for the job I really wanted but that seems to be all I was going to get. There are still two other jobs I'm waiting to hear about - one is in publishing and one is back in non-profit. I think it's because I had a few options that I've been able to treat this unemployment as a vacation of sorts. I haven't become too bummed out yet but there are definitely moments that I wonder what the hell I'm doing and if I'll ever be able to find a job I really love. It's been nice, though, that the weather has been hot and I've done lots of reading - since the 21st I've read four books (I really thought it was more, lol). But, I'm trying to stay positive and am looking forward to some more reading time. I'm also going to try to work on my blog a little more - more scheduling posts, more posts that aren't just reviews, and maybe some design changes. And I'm hoping I'll finally have time to read Miranda's book of short stories!

Finally, I want to say thank you to everyone who has supported me though this crazy journey. My friends have listened to be ramble on about not knowing what I want to do with my life and being worried that I won't find a job...ever. My family has done the same while also providing much needed advice and money. Finally, my poor boyfriend has put up with me when I was super tired from the ridiculous commute to Toronto, he made sure I had food to eat, and also dealt with my super chatty self when I was working at home alone all day (as bunnies don't make for good conversationalists). Thank you to all of you. I couldn't have made it through all this without you! Keep your fingers crossed for me! Hopefully I'll have some good news to share soon. :)

Reading Sarah Dessen: The Moon and More

Hosted by I Eat Words

Welcome to month four of the I Eat Words Sarah Dessen Read/Reread Challenge! Check out this post that explains the details about the awesomeness that is this challenge. Ah, a new book from Dessen! That always makes the summer that much better, in my opinion. I'm always excited when she releases a new book because, as you know, she's one of my favourite authors. Even though I had stayed away from early reviews of The Moon and More because I didn't want to know anything about it, I still knew that there were a few mixed reviews out there. I was hesitant because my expectations were so high but I ended up really loving this new book.

Synopsis:

Luke is the perfect boyfriend: handsome, kind, fun. He and Emaline have been together all through high school in Colby, the beach town where they both grew up. But now, in the summer before college, Emaline wonders if perfect is good enough.
Enter Theo, a super-ambitious outsider, a New Yorker assisting on a documentary film about a reclusive local artist. Theo's sophisticated, exciting, and, best of all, he thinks Emaline is much too smart for Colby.
Emaline's mostly-absentee father, too, thinks Emaline should have a bigger life, and he's convinced that an Ivy League education is the only route to realizing her potential. Emaline is attracted to the bright future that Theo and her father promise. But she also clings to the deep roots of her loving mother, stepfather, and sisters. Can she ignore the pull of the happily familiar world of Colby?
Emaline wants the moon and more, but how can she balance where she comes from with where she's going?

About the Story

Main  Character: Emaline

Age: 18

School Year or Summer?: Summer

Boys: Boyfriend Luke and new boy in town Theo

First description of Luke: "Halfway down the stairs to the front door, I glanced out one of the big windows, spotting the object of their ogling: a tall, very tan guy with curly blond hair, shirtless, wielding a long, awfully phallic looking pool brush." (page 9-10) 

First description of Theo: "He, however, was not from here, something I discerned with one glance. First, he had on Oyster jeans - dark wash, with the signature O on the back pockets - which I hadn't even known they made for guys. Second, he had a knit cap pulled down over his ears, even though it was early June." (page 13)
Crushable?: Neither of them totally did it for me but I'd definitely be more drawn to Luke (and not just because that's my boyfriend's name!)

Big Secret?:  No.

Heavy Storyline?: Not heavy and not overly dramatic but there are issues.

Parents Together?: Yes - sort of. She has a father (biologically) and a dad (her stepdad who adopted her when she was three).
Sibling(s)?: Yes, two older sisters. Margo is 22 and Amber is 20. 

Takes Place In: Colby, the beach town that shows up often in Dessen's works.

Cameos: So many! Emaline's BFF works at the store owned by Heidi, Auden's stepmom, from Along for the Ride and they both make an appearance. Also from Along for the Ride are Clyde and Esther (though I admit that Google had to help me with those connections). Luke's cousins are Wes and Bert from The Truth About Forever. They visit the Last Chance Cafe, which is mentioned in a couple of books, I think. Finally, Spinnerbait (Hate Spinnerbait!) from This Lullaby is playing at the club in town.

About the Book

Released: June 4 2013.

Epigraph?: No.

Format (of the copy I read): Hardcover.

Own?: Yes.

Signed?: No. 

Read or Reread: Read

Age when first read: 26.

New cover vs older cover: Not applicable since this was just published. I do have to say that I'm not a huge fan of the cover. After reading the book I get the significance of the grass but I still think that water would have been a better choice.

My Thoughts
I don't think I really allowed myself to believe that summer was here until I read Dessen's new novel. Her books are just the perfect summer read because they're amazing and almost always take place during summer vacation. I was looking forward to The Moon and More because, for the first time, the entire novel took place in Colby and was told from the perspective of someone who grew up there. I found this aspect of the novel to be really interesting - and probably the reason I really liked this book. I grew up in a town that has its fair share of tourists who are staying at the nearby beaches (Sandy can actually talk about this more because she lives at the beach) but it's not really anything like Colby (I wish it was though!). Like Emaline, I'm a small town girl at heart but, also like Emaline, I was eager to find out what the world had to offer once I was done high school.
Speaking of Emaline, I really loved her character and felt really connected to her. I know what it's like to have a family structure that requires an extra step of explanation and I can still remember my last summer before starting university. She had her flaws and, once again, I wanted to be a big sister for her but I knew she was a smart and strong character and would be able to figure out her life. I just loved reading her story.
One thing I found interesting was that Emaline and her boyfriend Luke were having sex during the story. That sounds weird, I know. The interesting thing is that I can't recall another Dessen novel where the main character was having sex during the book. Remy, in This Lullaby, had slept with guys before but she and Dexter never actually had sex. It seems like an odd thing to note but it seemed quite different for Dessen and that's what made me pay attention. This isn't a bad thing and it's not in any way graphic (I don't believe there are any descriptions at all) but it just made me think. I also could be wrong in recalling all her previous novels - can anyone correct me?
I found the boys in this book interesting, too. Dessen usually writes some excellently swoonworthy male characters (see: Wes from The Truth About Forever and Dexter from This Lullaby) but there was something about Luke and Theo that prevented me from wanting them for myself (hey, you all have book boyfriends, don't try to deny it!). Perhaps it's because Emaline herself doesn't quite know who she wants because she doesn't quite know who she is. Romance really didn't play a large part in the novel and I think that's what made the boys take a backseat in the story.
Overall, The Moon and More is a great read. New and old fans of Sarah Dessen will enjoy it, I think. And if you STILL haven't read any of her books, why not start with this one?

Sandy's Thoughts

Yes! A new Sarah Dessen novel to add to the collection. In her eleventh effort, The Moon and More, Dessen does not disappoint. The characters seem a little older and wiser than some of their predecessors but the coming of age teen story is still there. You still get that same feeling of satisfaction when you close the book for the last time and the story is all wrapped up. As with every Dessen ending there are questions and possibilities untold but there are also twists and turns you never saw coming.

Being the eleventh book, Dessen has mastered the personalities of the towns and people she has created. I love the cameos she throws into every novel and this one had a ton! We met Auden at Clementines, Clyde from the Washroom, Wes and Bert from Truth are mentioned and there are many more hidden tributes to her past novels. That made this novel special to me. I love that she has created her own little world between Lakeview and Colby and that her readers are part of it. I felt like I was part of the Colby beach community and invested in the outcome of Emaline’s summer.

Emaline hopes, from the beginning, for a different kind of summer. By virtue of the fact that it is the last one she will have before moving on to college it should be different. However, fate sees fit to give her a summer of changes that she will never forget. She had wanted the summer to mean reconciliation between her and her biological father and fun times with her long-term boyfriend (page 389). Instead she was gifted with the unconditional love of her younger half-brother and a true sense of herself without a boyfriend to influence her. This summer teaches Emaline that no matter where she goes she will always have her friends, family and Colby to support her.

For most of this novel I struggled to swoon over either boy in Emaline’s life. Luke seemed to be a little too conceited and Theo was just too pushy. It seemed as though both boys were too into themselves and never really heard or saw Emaline they just bowled over her. The boy I really liked was dozy Morris. He and Daisy were the shining couple of The Moon and More for me. It wasn’t until the last fifty pages when Theo shows his true colours and Luke is there that I really felt invested in the Luke/Emaline relationship. Luke finally showed that he knew her and saw her for who she was, not who he thought she was.

I also really enjoyed Clyde’s back-story. I found it very compelling and wanted to know, along with Ivy and Theo, why he had quit being an artist and moved back to Colby if he was so successful.  Clyde is one of the big Colby personalities so it was interesting to discover more about him. Everyone has a story.

Sarah Dessen says it best, “It takes so little to change everything.” (Page 187) That is the crux of every one of her novels. One small moment, action, or reaction can change the entire course of a summer, a year, or a life. I am looking forward to number twelve!

Next month: We're reading That Summer. It will be interesting to go from Dessen's newest book to her first.