Book Review: The Moon And More by Sarah Dessen

The Moon and More

By: Sarah Dessen

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Goodreads Description: 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?

Sarah Dessen's devoted fans will welcome this story of romance, yearning, and, finally, empowerment. It could only happen in the summer.

I love Sarah Dessen's books! And this one is no disappointment! This is why she is my favorite author!

     First of all, it was good to get some more of Colby! I love that place and if I could, I would jump right in the book to live there. The perfect small town beach where people no each other, but it is still close to a city as well. My kind of paradise! 

     Then you have the main character, Emaline. May I just say, that is such a cool and unique name. She was a great character to read about. Strong but with vulnerability as well. Fun but still hardworking and kind of a control freak. Scared to try new things, but still willing to sometimes. She has the perfect balance to her character and that is why I loved reading from her point of view. 

     Emaline is a small town girl, getting ready to take on the "real world" and wants to enjoy one more summer before everything in her life that is familiar, changes completely. Plus, a girl that wants to become close with a father she barely ever knew. Plus, after a relationship with her high school boyfriend, Luke, ends she has to face a whole different looking future that she did not expect. 

     Theo, talk about a true New Yorker. In Colby for the summer, he is the perfect kind of change that Emaline needs. He is a fun, caring, and very enthusiastic person. But, to Emaline, it is a huge change and one she has to figure out if she is ready for. 

     Luke is Emaline's boyfriend of the last three years. Well that is until he does something to screw it all up. But, it may not have been the worst thing for both of them. And even after everything he is still the sweet guy who comes to help when Emaline needs someone the most. Talk about an amazing person!

     Clyde and Ivy. What a contrast in characters! You have Clyde, who is the laid back, calm, small town artist. He doesn't let his successful art change his small town roots. Then you have Ivy, who is a neurotic, demanding, sometimes just plain rude, documentary filmer. They both made the book interesting in their own way, especially when they were in scenes with each other or talking about each other. 

     Then you have Benji, Morris, Daisy, and Emaline's family. Can I just say that Emaline has a great support system and amazing people surrounding her in life. They are all fun and care about her so much that they would drop everything to help her out. She is a very lucky girl. 

All in all this book was so great! There are so many awesome lessons to be learned from Emaline and her summer story in this book. 

My Rating: