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chantaal 's review for:
Just Listen
by Sarah Dessen
Originally posted at The Wandering Fangirl.
While reading other reviews for this book on Goodreads and seeing the complaints that it seemed too much like Sarah Dessen’s other works, I got the feeling her books are the same as [a:John Green|1406384|John Green|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1300041951p2/1406384.jpg]’s for me: your first John Green book is the best John Green book you’ll read*. This was my first Sarah Dessen book, and it was fantastic.
Just Listen deals with a plethora of teen issues, from anger management and social ostracism to eating disorders and the big event that happens to Annabel that you can figure out before the reveal if you just think about it for two seconds. But it does it in such a way that it not only feels fresh, but has an impact as well. I felt for Annabel more than I have for a contemporary heroine in a long time, and a large part of that was probably because there was much more to her life than a boy, and the boy doesn’t solve all her problems. I LOVED that most of the story focuses on Annabel’s relationships with her various family members, and that Owen (insert dreamy sigh here) isn’t everything. Yes, he does help her open up again and plays a large part in her moving forward, but ultimately, every good and bad decision, every emotional growth spurt is up to Annabel. She earns every moment.
I really want to read more Sarah Dessen books, but I don’t want her to become a John Green to me. I’m waffling on what to read next.
*So many of the same witty teens, so much of the same maturity, all with the same unique way of looking at the world. Looking for Alaska was my first and favorite.
While reading other reviews for this book on Goodreads and seeing the complaints that it seemed too much like Sarah Dessen’s other works, I got the feeling her books are the same as [a:John Green|1406384|John Green|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1300041951p2/1406384.jpg]’s for me: your first John Green book is the best John Green book you’ll read*. This was my first Sarah Dessen book, and it was fantastic.
Just Listen deals with a plethora of teen issues, from anger management and social ostracism to eating disorders and the big event that happens to Annabel that you can figure out before the reveal if you just think about it for two seconds. But it does it in such a way that it not only feels fresh, but has an impact as well. I felt for Annabel more than I have for a contemporary heroine in a long time, and a large part of that was probably because there was much more to her life than a boy, and the boy doesn’t solve all her problems. I LOVED that most of the story focuses on Annabel’s relationships with her various family members, and that Owen (insert dreamy sigh here) isn’t everything. Yes, he does help her open up again and plays a large part in her moving forward, but ultimately, every good and bad decision, every emotional growth spurt is up to Annabel. She earns every moment.
I really want to read more Sarah Dessen books, but I don’t want her to become a John Green to me. I’m waffling on what to read next.
*So many of the same witty teens, so much of the same maturity, all with the same unique way of looking at the world. Looking for Alaska was my first and favorite.