What I like about Sarah Dessen's writing is how her characters seem like people you could actually know. Mclean Elizabeth Sweet's parents had a messy, public divorce during her sophomore year, and she fought to live with her dad. After living in three towns in two years, Mclean is starting over again in a new one. Instead of adopting a persona (Beth, Eliza, Lizbet), she accidentally ends up as the "real" Mclean again. And, when life gets real, families, friendships, and relationships take on depth and meaning that can be hard to handle. As in most of Sarah Dessen's books, there is a great guy in store (Dave, in this case)! I also have to give Dessen credit for including characters' parents, and giving them their own problems and viewpoints. I didn't love this book as much as some of her others, but it was a satisfying read. It does have a few connections her previous book, Along for the Ride, which was fun. This is a good book to curl up with on a rainy day or quiet weekend!
