What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

 What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

Published May 10, 2011 by Penguin Young Readers Group

Hardcover: 402 pages


In the past two years, Mclean Sweet has moved four times. At each stop, she assumes a new persona, but it never quite works. Whether she's an effervescent cheerleader or an intense drama queen, nothing can permanently dispel the turmoil and rage at her mother since her parents' divorce. Sarah Dessen's novel about a teenager and her restaurant manager father captures the vulnerability that young people often experience after the dissolution of their family. A compelling story; strong characterization; and with a touch of romance.

What Happened to Goodbye is totally, absolutely Sarah Dessen.

Unless you live under a rock, you know Sarah Dessen is the YA romance genius. She's Einstein. She's Ghandi. She's The President of the United Sates. She's Sarah Dessen. And, Sarah Dessen wrote this book.

Mclean has a very hard life. Moving in, transforming, packing, moving, forgetting, and repeat. Mclean has always managed the process, but in Lakeview she finds herself being herself. Not pretending, just being real. Things get sticky (both because of bad things and good things). And Dave! Dave! I like Dave... He's nice and a little strange and completely sweet and adorable and likable.  I like Dave.

Obviously, What Happened to Goodbye was really good, and you should read it. Seriously.

Four Stars

P.S. On page 393, at the end of the sixth paragraph, there's a really adorable accurance that left me teary-eyed and going, "Awwwwww!!!" Oh, Dave.