Comment

Jul 20, 2015
I remember when I was 12 and I read my first Sarah Dessen book, The Truth About Forever. I didn't like it, couldn't even get though a third of it. Come 13 and I try it again and it was A PIECE OF ART THAT MUST BE WORSHIPPED. After reading Just Listen I have realized that my Sarah Dessen readings have a pattern. The story starts off with Annabel, the youngest child in a family of models (well mostly just her and her two sisters), as early on the in story we are told that she and her BFF Sophie no longer speak for some reason I can't say but if you've read enough books like these you've narrowed them down. As her family copes with her sister's eating disorder she slowly gets better, but as time passes and she discovers a love for the Owen the loner her secret comes out, and the reason why Annabel and Sophie stopped talking. To be honest when I picked up the book I thought it was going to be way darker for some reason, even though this is Sarah Dessen. The main character was pretty likeable even though she was following the classic "I don't feel like I fit it" which makes sense for her age; however the people that really got me were her parents when they failed to notice (or more of acknowledge, especially the mom) the sister's eating disorder, until she passed about and had one foot in the grave. Annabel's character development was good as well since in the beginning she believes that she is weak. Overall I would recommend it to a friend, the writing style is accurate and a majority of the characters are likable, however it was definitely not my cup of tea.