The Truth About Forever

I was getting a bit lazy with my reading and I decided to give a Sarah Dessen book a read because I had read her book called Just Listen and I remember that I really enjoyed reading that book as well. After finishing it I realized that this was the book I needed to read. I can really agree with Macy about the way she felt in the beginning of the book. She was really upset by losing her dad but she met people that really showed her that they way she was "living" her life wasn't living at all. My friend and I had a similar discussion about this whether we are really living or we think we are. Life can get us in such a routine that we don't see the other possibilities. Especially now when everyone is stuck at home and everything is becoming a routine you realize how much you miss those spontaneous moments where they weren't planned in you daily schedule. I also find myself a bit envious of Macy. She was able to make a change in her life with the help of her friends, she realized that what she was doing wasn't really living. When schools were open before Covid started to really worsen I cherished ever single day with my friends because there was never a boring day with them. But even having amazing friends and truly an amazing life in my opinion life really felt like a routine that you couldn't really escape, so many expectations with no room for mess ups because you didn't want to look like you were struggling. I now realize how important it is to recognize these feelings and share them with the people you are close to. In every moment there is always something new to learn and each book is a very valuable lesson even if it doesn't really seem like it. I know that I won't be forgetting this book and I will make sure to implement what I have learned here into my daily life. So just a message for me if you are still here live life, you don't always need to think of the consequences. Don't focus on your future or past live in the moment because you will never get it back, cherish the time you spend with the people you love and work your hardest to make them your priority. A life without love and people in your life is truly one that no one would want to live in I promise you.

I have very high standards for books. I've read several of Dessen's works and while I didn't like all of them, I loved this one. When I read Along for the Ride and This Lullaby, I enjoyed them because of her writing style but I had a difficult time in both cases connecting to the main character and as a result I probably wouldn't read them a second time. I say this as a disclaimer because I realize a lot of five star reviews are filled with compliments about the book and it makes them seem one-sided. At this point, I've read The Truth About Forever five times. Each time I read it, I find something new to like about it. I laugh in places, cry a little in places, and it always cheers me up by the end because it ends on a positive note.Having lost my own father, witnessing his death much like Macy did for her own father, I found these scenes and anything to do with her grief to be easy to connect to and extremely realistic. The EZ products arriving being a message from her dad was a great addition.Macy, as a character, is an average girl who tries to be perfect. At one time in her life she was a fiercely talented runner (a mile in 5:05 min is something to brag about) but she gave this up after her dad passed away. Since then she has recurring nightmares about trying to run and failing at it. Since her father's death she's taken up yoga, gotten involved with several school clubs, and is a hardworking student-striving for perfect grades. All of this happens after she meets Jason Talbot who "embodies perfection." Realistically, he embodies arrogance and immaturity but once you see his parents and a couple of his peers, it's understandable where he gets it. Some readers may have a problem with the portrayals of these characters as it will seem shallow and one-sided at times but I can tell you from experience that people like this really do exist.Macy and her mother have an unspoken contract regarding their relationship. Macy is supposed to be the younger version of her mother while Caroline, Macy's older sister, was more like the father. What we find out immediately is that neither one of them truly knows the other very well but this is reconciled in a fitting way.My personal favorite scenes were those with Wish Catering. Seeing Macy's perfect world so free of chaos get shattered for a few hours every night was hilarious. Eventually, it got her to realize that it was impossible to control the things around her. Her mother undergoes a similar experience, but I don't want to give anything away.People who have gone through the shocking loss of a loved one will truly appreciate this book. It's much more than a love story (though it's a wonderful love story, as well). It's about growing, changing, and accepting the things you can't control. It's also about realizing that right now isn't forever and life is always changing.

I read this book at the age of 15. I took it on holiday with me and literally read it about 6 or 7 times in the space of two weeks. I have never been able to finish a book, then turn it back to the first page and start reading it all over again, until I found this book. I have been a fan of Sarah Dessen from about the age of 14. I have read all of her books and even now at 22 I am still excitedly anticipating the release of her latest book. Back to this one. This has always been my favourite purely for the reason that it's exceptional.Sarah has the ability to make you feel what the character feels which I think is absolutely incredible and most authors don't accomplish it. The relationships between the characters was amazing and I actually felt like I was there, I was part of this weird little family that Macy had found. The storyline was brilliant. If I was to summarise it I would say, it's a coming of age story of a teenage girl feeling the pressure of school, family, work and annoyingly "perfect" boyfriend. She finds an escape from everything with an interesting group of people who would change her life completely. I can't really say anything else about it without giving too much away. All I can say is I don't think this book will ever get old. It has humour, it has sadness, and it has acceptance. It purely brilliant and I don't think I will ever tire of reading it. If you purchase a book today, make sure it's this one. You will not regret it.

Read this a few times in my life so far. Kind of a comfort book. It’s about a girl who learn there’s no such thing as perfect and starts living her life as she wants and not to please others

This is one of the first books I read this summer and I really, really loved it! It follows Macy, a girl who has just lost her father. As she is trying to cope with her father's death, being away from her boyfriend who is at braincamp AND working at a place she does not like or fit in, she decides to start work ing for a catering company where she meets the mysterious, but charming, Wes! I really recommend this book, especially for the summer. I am also starting school soon, so it learned me a lot about life and that you should just live for the moment! Every girl should read this book :-)

I'd already looked at this in the bookshop and decided not to read it, but I changed my mind after a friend recommended it. After a quiet start the book completely drew me in. I thought it was very cleverly constructed with great characterisation. It wasn't quite what I'd expected from reading the blurb. I absolutely loved it and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys stories that explore human relations and especially anyone who enjoys a really romantic love story.

I loved this book.It had a wonderful, dreamy feel to it.The characters are all well written and the storyline is sublime. I am actually not very fond of Sarah Dessens style of writing, but this book just couldn't be any better.It has so many positive messages woven in the pages.Just beautiful, a must read.