Thoughts on: The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen

Plot: A teenage girl's journey to self-discovery, grief, and moving forward. And of course, there's a cutie hunk along the way.

In a nutshell: A fast-paced, feel-good novel that, surprisingly, still manages to deliver a punch right in the feels.

Recommend this to: Readers looking for a light yet satisfying read. If you like your novels fast-paced with consistently-written characters, this is it. This is one YA novel that, occasional cheesiness aside, even non-YA readers would enjoy.


However... Readers on the lookout for unique plots and characters need not bother. Readers on the lookout for unpredictable twists and turns would likely abandon this novel at the first chapter alone. But don't worry, this is 250~ pages of good time.


Now to the fun part. If you have not yet read/finished The Truth About Forever (which is not likely since this was published 2004), feel free to stop reading here. A ton of spoilers* ahead! That being said, here's my take on Sarah Dessen's 6th novel:
*that is, if you happen to have not guessed every single thing that's going to happen 15 chapters away. 

The novel's premise, in itself, is actually nothing readers would call a "breakthrough." It's as every bit of how YA franchise goes:

1. Goody two-shoes (GTS) meets laid-back cutie (LBC).
2. LBC makes GTS discover her carefree side.
3. GTS can now oppose norms and stand up for herself.
4. GTS realizes love for LBC, but is met with opposition from another major character.
5. GTS says "fuck it, fuck you, fuck everythang" and runs for her liberation (in this case, literally).
6. GTS and LBC seal the happy ending with a kiss.
7. World hunger ends.

Visual representation of Macy on the last chapters.

As predictable as it is, though, you still find yourself turning page after page--enjoying the cookie-cut universe the author paints. And oddly enough, I think the novel's lack of surprise is actually what made it so magnetic. Halfway through the book, I'm pretty sure most, if not all, readers would have guessed how it would end.

But you know what? That's totally fine. 

The two main characters were so convincingly written that you can't help but "walk along with them" on their story. You find yourself reading on just to seek the satisfaction of finding out how the underdog finally comes on top and how the haters be hatin'. And, god, was it worth the wait (Screw you, Jason. Fuck you and your tri-county library database).

The plot has an undeniable charm to it and I personally liked the fact that one would hardly consider this a tale of teenage love alone but of an actual journey of moving on from grief and embracing life as it happens. Yes, I KNOW I'm talking like I'm in a John Green novel and I'm not sorry.


What could be better: The side characters, though still with consistent personalities, weren't as fleshed out and as believable as the protagonists--perhaps due to the lack of exposure and/or memorable moments. Again, you could tell from thousands of miles away who's going to matter in the story and who's not.

Also, one glaring detail that's hard to miss, and perhaps some would consider this a good thing, is that the book is written so much like a movie. Meaning, unnecessary details and buildups are done away with and readers are left with the bare necessities of the story. I guess it's just too bad because I was really looking forward to knowing the side characters more.


Overall: A solid 4 out of 5.