Search This Blog
June Reviews Link-Up
July Reviews Link-Up
August Reviews Link-Up
September Reviews Link-Up
October Reviews Link-Up
November Reviews Link-Up
December Reviews Link-Up
2024 Literary Escapes Challenge
- Alabama (1)
- Alaska
- Arizona (1)
- Arkansas
- California (3)
- Colorado (1)
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia (1)
- Hawaii
- Idaho (2)
- Illinois (1)
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky (1)
- Louisiana (1)
- Maine (1)
- Maryland
- Massachusetts (2)
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York (2)
- North Carolina (3)
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma (1)
- Oregon (2)
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island (1)
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee (1)
- Texas (2)
- Utah
- Vermont (2)
- Virginia (1)
- Washington (2)
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
- Washington, D.C.*
International:
- Australia (1)
- Canada (1)
- England (7)
- France (1)
- Indonesia (1)
- Ireland (2)
- Italy (1)
- Scotland (2)
- The Netherlands (1)
2024 Build Your Library Reading Challenge
Thursday, October 03, 2013
Easy, Breezy Summer Novel A Little Too Easy, Breezy
1:00 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
While other people spend their summer vacations playing on the sparkling beach in Colby, North Carolina, Emaline does not. The 18-year-old would definitely not mind spending endless hours sunbathing or snorkeling or pedaling a bike along the pier, but she's hardly a carefree tourist. She's got a job, a demanding one, one that ensures the town's summer people enjoy their stays in her hometown. As the official greeter and make-sure-everyone's-happy person for her family's vacation rental business, Emaline gets to deal with guest requests, guest complaints and, worst of all, her older sister's irritating know-it-all business management style. She can't wait to leave it all behind when she goes to college in the Fall.
Well, okay, there's a (not so) small part of her that wants to stay in Colby for the rest of her life. Maybe the small town doesn't have a lot to offer in the way of educational advancement, but it's where she feels most content, most at peace. Does she really want to leave her warm, crazy family behind? And what about Luke Templeton, her perfect, loving boyfriend? Can their relationship survive the distance?
When Emaline meets Theo Burns, an NYU film student who's in Colby for the summer working on a documentary, she begins to see just how small her life really is. Through him, she realizes how tired she is of being "just [a] supporting player in someone else's summer" (67). But, does she have the courage to step onto center stage? Especially if it means taking big risks that come with serious consequences? Pulled between the comfort of her safe little life in Colby and the promise of better things awaiting her in the big, wide world, Emaline must decide who she really is and what she really wants. Before her bright, pivotal summer fades away forever.
The Moon and More, the newest offering from teen favorite Sarah Dessen, is exactly what it appears to be—an easy, breezy beach novel that's as light and entertaining as the best of summer days. Although it's a lengthy 435 pages, the book's got a bubbly tone that keeps it from feeling too weighed down. While that's all well and good, a stronger central conflict would have helped the story feel more focused and substantial. Emaline's inner struggle seemed flimsy to me, which made her decisions too predictable. So, all in all, I enjoyed The Moon and More, I just thought it prattled on for way too long considering its underdeveloped plotline. Since this was my first foray into Sarah Dessen territory, it's possible I was expecting way too much from it. And, really, the novel didn't disappoint, but it didn't wow me either.
(Readalikes: The Distance Between Us by Kasie West)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (no F-bombs), mild sexual innuendo/content and references to underage drinking/partying
To the FTC, with love: I received an ARC of The Moon and More from the generous folks at Penguin. Thank you!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments
(Atom)
Reading
Listening
Followin' with Bloglovin'
-
-
Time Travel Thursday4 hours ago
-
Paris to the Moon by Adam Gopnik6 hours ago
-
-
-
Loyally Luke Review + giveaway12 hours ago
-
#ThrowbackThursday. Stephen Fry in America14 hours ago
-
-
-
The Wild Lavender Bookshop by Jodi Thomas19 hours ago
-
Daily Prompt 15 May Wednesday21 hours ago
-
-
World of Books ~ Review1 day ago
-
-
-
Spoon To Be Dead By Dana Mentink1 day ago
-
Displaced Persons - Joan Leegant2 days ago
-
Reading Recap April 20242 days ago
-
-
-
-
-
Bridge to Bat City3 days ago
-
-
Blood Rubies by Mailan Doquang6 days ago
-
-
-
-
47. The One and Only Family1 week ago
-
A bit of catching up1 week ago
-
-
May TBR2 weeks ago
-
-
-
-
March Monthly Wrap-up1 month ago
-
-
-
-
-
What Happened to Summer?7 months ago
-
6/25/23 Extra Ezra10 months ago
-
-
-
-
-
Are you looking for Pretty Books?1 year ago
-
-
-
-
-
Grab my Button!
Blog Archive
- ► 2021 (159)
- ► 2020 (205)
- ► 2019 (197)
- ► 2018 (223)
- ► 2017 (157)
- ► 2016 (157)
- ► 2015 (188)
- ► 2014 (133)
- ▼ 2013 (183)
- ► 2012 (193)
- ► 2011 (232)
- ► 2010 (257)
- ► 2009 (211)
- ► 2008 (192)
0 bookworm(s) said...:
Post a Comment
Comments make me feel special, so go crazy! Just keep it clean and civil. Feel free to speak your mind (I always do), but be aware that I will delete any offensive comments.
P.S.: Don't panic if your comment doesn't show up right away. I have to approve each one before it posts to prevent spam. It's annoying, but it works!