{Audiobook} Where She Went by Gayle Forman

Title: Where She Went
Author: Gayle Forman
Narrator:  Dan Bittner
Series: If I Stay, book #2
Length:  5 hrs 21 mins
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Publication Date: April 5, 2011
Source: Library
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

It's been three years since the devastating accident . . . three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life forever.

Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Juilliard's rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia's home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future-and each other.

Told from Adam's point of view in the spare, lyrical prose that defined If I Stay, Where She Went explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance.

Back in 2013, I decided to finally read If I Stay. I really liked it, there were some slow parts. Now years later, I finally got around to reading Where She Went. I saw that my library had the audio available recently and no one had checked it out. so I grabbed it. 

It's short, which was great for me, because I only get the chance to listen to audio when I'm driving. I try at work, but the constant interruptions get old. I was able to get through this one pretty quickly due to the length. 

I have to say, I loved Where She Went even more than If I Stay. It was great hearing it from Adam's POV. The Narrator was absolutely perfect. NO, really he was. He brought Adams character to life. 

There was so much to love about this book. My favorite part was just finding out what all goes down after Mia wakes up. You are given minimal info at the end of If I Stay. So getting the scoop was like closure you could say. 

One thing I do not recommend is listening to the audio while you drive.

That gif says it all. I pulled into my driveway as I was finishing the book and tears were running down my face. Not necessarily sad tears. Some happy, some just sad for all Mia lost... Basically, its' a short book but it really packs a punch. It's very emotional and I loved every second of it. 

If you are like me, and read If I Stay, but haven't given this one a try yet, you totally should! 

About the author:

I suppose the short version of this bio could simply read: My name is Gayle Forman and I love to write young-adult novels. Because I do. So thank you for reading them. Because without you, it’d just be me. And the voices in my head.

Gayle Forman is an award-winning author and journalist whose articles have appeared in such publications as Jane, Seventeen, Glamour, Elle, and The New York Times Magazine, to name just a few. She lives in New York City with her husband and daughter.

Find Gayle:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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Labels: audiobooks, emotional, gayle forman, if i stay, penguin audio, reviews, tears in the car, where she went

{Audiobook} Review: The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen

Title: The Moon and More
Author: Sarah Dessen
Narrator: Allie Gallerani
Series: Standalone
Length:  11 hrs 25 mins
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Publication Date: June 4th, 2013
Source: purchased
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

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.

It's been a while since I've listened to a Sarah Dessen book. I went through a phase last year, where I blew through 3 of them. It was marvelous. So easily I was drawn back into that feeling a Dessen books gives you. I loved The Moon and More. I have seen some mixed reviews on it. Some saying it didn't hold the same magic her previous novels had. I disagree.

The Moon and More is the perfect summer read. It takes in a beach town. It's summer. It's perfect. And it's hot... I love reading books with hot weather... during these frigid Winter temps I'm dealing with  here. It reminds me that Spring will be on its way... eventually.

One thing I adored about this book was the realistic relationship Emaline has with Luke. I won't go into detail but I saw tons of my friends go through this very thing after our Senior year. Also, Emaline's relationship with her Father. That was pretty realistic too I think. Oh and her relationship with her step brother is adorable.

Something I always come to expect with a Dessen novel is the magnificent quotes. This one was by far, my favorite. Possibly ever.

“Having no expectations for some people in your life can be depressing, if not devastating. But with others, it’s what is necessary. The hard part is not just figuring out which one applies, but accepting it.”

So very true. I have people like this in my life, and it's not easy. I can tell you that, but over the years you learn to accept it. This quote really struck me.. I had to rewind it in the car numerous times.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Moon and More. The Narrator was great, and the story had just the right mix of summer fun and coming of age seriousness. I definitely recommend it. :)

This isn't the kind of gif I was searching for but I just had too. lol. It's so stupid. lol. 

About the author:

Sarah Dessen grew up in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and attended UNC-Chapel Hill, graduating with highest honors in Creative Writing. She is the author of several novels, including Someone Like You, Just Listen and Along for the Ride. A motion picture based on her first two books, entitled How to Deal, was released in 2003. Her eleventh novel, The Moon and More, will be published in June 2013. She lives in North Carolina.

Find Sarah:

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Labels: audiobooks, beach, growing up, penguin audio, reviews, sarah dessen, summer, the moon and more

{Audiobook} Review: This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen

Title: This Lullaby
Author: Sarah Dessen
Narrator: Ali Ahn
Series: n/a
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Publication Date: June 11th, 2009
Source: purchased audio
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

When it comes to relationships, Remy doesn't mess around. After all, she's learned all there is to know from her mother, who's currently working on husband number five. But there's something about Dexter that seems to defy all of Remy's rules. He certainly doesn't seem like Mr. Right. For some reason, however, Remy just can't seem to shake him. Could it be that Remy's starting to understand what those love songs are all about?

Thirds a charm!! So I grabbed another Dessen Audio book. I’ve been on a bit of a Dessen kick, and I’m kind of loving it. Originally I was going to listen to The Truth About Forever, but the Narrator was horrible, so I ended up exchanging it for This Lullaby.

It was really good, but I have to admit it’s my least favorite Dessen book so far. Why? Well there are a number of reasons that have pretty much nothing to do with the book and more to do with me. lol.

First thing was Remy. I just couldn’t relate to her that much. I liked her well enough, but I didn’t get that attachment to her that I have in other Dessen novels. Then there was Dexter. He was fun loving, but I wasn’t really loving him either. The whole band thing, I’m not really into the band scene. Ahhhhh and then there was the Zip Cokes. Ugh.. I want to re-listen just so that I can mark down how many times Zip Sodas were mentioned. I get it, they are fountain drinks from the Zip mart. So they call them zip drinks… for the love of all crap just call it a fucking Soda!!!!

Okay, I’m done bitching. Seriously though, that zip shit was annoying. Aside from that though, it was a great book. I liked the story behind the title. I liked how the meaning of it changes for Remy as the book goes on. Loved the references to Just Listen. I think just about every book I’ve read after mentions something from Just Listen at some point. And it still makes me giddy.

Overall, I enjoyed this one. Even though it wasn’t my fave, it still held so many aspects that make it a Dessen book.

About the author:

Sarah Dessen grew up in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and attended UNC-Chapel Hill, graduating with highest honors in Creative Writing. She is the author of several novels, including Someone Like You, Just Listen and Along for the Ride. A motion picture based on her first two books, entitled How to Deal, was released in 2003. Her eleventh novel, The Moon and More, will be published in June 2013. She lives in North Carolina.

Find Sarah:

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Labels: Audiobook, contemporary, it's just soda, penguin audio, reviews, sarah dessen, This Lullaby

{Audiobook} Review: Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen

Title: Lock and Key
Author: Sarah Dessen
Narrator: Rebecca Soler
Series: n/a
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Publication Date: January 9th, 2009
Source: purchased audio
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

Ruby, where is your mother?

Ruby knows that the game is up. For the past few months, she's been on her own in the yellow house, managing somehow, knowing that her mother will probably never return.

That's how she comes to live with Cora, the sister she hasn't seen in ten years, and Cora's husband Jamie, whose down-to-earth demeanor makes it hard for Ruby to believe he founded the most popular networking Web site around. A luxurious house, fancy private school, a new wardrobe, the promise of college and a future; it's a dream come true. So why is Ruby such a reluctant Cinderella, wary and defensive? And why is Nate, the genial boy next door with some secrets of his own, unable to accept the help that Ruby is just learning to give?

Best-selling author Sarah Dessen explores the heart of a gutsy, complex girl dealing with unforeseen circumstances and learning to trust again.

Oh my gosh, Lock and Key was good. *End Review*

If only it was that easy right? I’d be caught up and scheduled ahead for months, but I guess I’ll tell you a little about it. Just Listen was the first Dessen book I’ve listened to in Audio, and I loved it, so I had to stick with the theme and listen to another. I decided to go with Lock and Key, and I’m so glad I did.

Books like these, kids coming from bad homes, they grab at me. I think its because things weren’t perfect for me growing up. I like to read stories about kids getting a second chance, being pulled from these situations and living a better life.

Ruby has pretty much been abandoned by her piece of shit mother. But she’s 17 and quickly approaching adulthood so she does her best to survive on her own. She's failing fast, and fortunately the landlords figure it all out.

This brings us to Cora, Ruby’s older sister who steps in to take custody. They haven’t seen each other for 10 years. There is so much between these two, and the tears were flowing, let me tell you. Not necessarily sad tears, a lot of them were happy, but their relationship was complicated, and listening to them sort through it all was just.. *sigh* So many feelings.

Cora does well for herself, so Ruby is thrust into a life of luxury you could say. At least when compared to what Ruby is used too. She now has a nice room, goes to a nice school, lives in a beautiful house and has options for a future she never pictured having. It’s an adjustment for sure.

Ahh, then there is Nate, the boy next door. I loved him and I liked the relationship that grows between the two. He has his own issues to deal with, but their growing romance was sweet. It was no where near the main focus though and much of Lock and Key is about the family. I loved that. I was so wrapped up in Ruby and Cora's relationship that I cared about little else.

It’s just such a great book and the Audio was good to. It took me a bit to get used to the narrators voice, but once I did, I was sucked right in!

About the author:

Sarah Dessen grew up in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and attended UNC-Chapel Hill, graduating with highest honors in Creative Writing. She is the author of several novels, including Someone Like You, Just Listen and Along for the Ride. A motion picture based on her first two books, entitled How to Deal, was released in 2003. Her eleventh novel, The Moon and More, will be published in June 2013. She lives in North Carolina.

Find Sarah:

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

Read More

Labels: contemporary, lock and key, penguin audio, reviews, sarah dessen, sisters