*This post contains affiliate links, however all opinions are my own.
I love a good book. My entire life I have been a reader. My favorite books tend to be young love stories, coming of age stories, and historical fiction. I just finished reading “The Rest of the Story” by Sarah Dessen. Man, can she write a wonderful book. Right now, you can get this book for $9.99 on Amazon! Click the picture below to pick up your copy now!
I’ve read every single one of Sarah Dessen’s novels and not one has ever disappointed me.
This book starts with a girl named Emma Saylor- with her dad she goes by Emma, but when she unexpectedly spends most of the summer with her deceased mom’s family, she goes by Saylor.
Saylor has only ever been around her mom’s family once before. She is forced to stay with them when her dad remarries and her plans for the summer fall through. With nowhere else to stay she ends up in Lake North (or North Lake?). To me, these town names were the MOST complicated part of the book.
North Lake and Lake North are 2 towns that are side by side. Both with lake front properties. One town is working class, one is high class. Saylor’s mom grew up on the working class side but met Saylor’s dad on the high class side.
When Emma gets to her Mimi’s home, she slowly transforms into Saylor, a girl who is more willing to take chances, speak up for herself and get behind the steering wheel of her own life.
I enjoyed this book SO much. The development of the sweet love story was actually on the back burner most of the book. This book was more about a girl learning to take control of her own life and learning her own life story. Learning about the family that she never knew, developing a relationship with her cousins and her grandmother is the real relationship building that happens.
Another relationship that develops throughout the story is between Saylor and her dead mother, Waverly. Waverly died from an overdose 5 years before the book begins. Throughout the book, Saylor learns so much about the mother that she thought she knew, but actually didn’t know much at all.
Dessen deals readers a beautiful story of life, loss, love and family. Everything a good book should have.
I would recommend this for anyone ages 13 plus. There is no inappropriate language (other than the word hell), no sex, no drugs. There is 3 scenes of underage alcohol use, however there is no drunk driving. Personally I think that the scenes would encourage teenagers not to drink because it does show ramifications of underage drinking, and none of them are positive. It also shows that it is okay to be at a party and not drink, as the main character, Saylor, does multiple times.
Now, I’m on the hunt for my next great read! What should I read next? Do you have a favorite young love story?
