Review: The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen

Title: The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen
Released: June 4, 2013 by Viking
Pages: 435
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Reviewed by: Carey

If you're familiar with Dessen's novels, you would know that she tends to tie in past novels to current ones. The Moon and More is set in her fictional town of Colby, where high school graduate Emaline lives. When the book starts off, she's dating Luke, who's perfect in all aspects. Enter Theo, an movie-making intern, who immediately falls for Emaline. Her father and half-brother show up with some big news, which of course causes some drama. And all her mom wants to give Emaline is the moon and more.

First off, I want to say that this is Dessen's longest novel ever, beating What Happened to Goodbye by around 33 pages, and Along for the Ride by 40. Props to her. This is the only reason why I gave it 4.5: it took me a while to get into it, and it sort of dragged on for a bit. To be honest, it wasn't typical Dessen Style. But it was still fabulous and I did love it. It got so emotional towards the end--- I would say why, but I really don't want to spoil it or anything. Dessen is right on point when it comes to teenage problems. How nerve wracking it is the summer before college, having siblings in your room, break ups, new relationships, etc. Everything Dessen is writes about it right on point, in every single book she writes. And I loved the fact how she described the differences between dad and father.

As for the characters: I loved Emaline. She didn't want to let people push her around, and I love that. She was so kind to everyone, even someone she didn't really like. Luke, despite the reason why he and Emaline broke up, was literally perfect. I was really expecting them to get back together once they went of to East U, and I was truly disappointed when they didn't. Morris made me laugh every single time his character showed up, and I'm actually really excited for his character to show up in later Dessen novels. Theo, though. I disliked him so freaking much. I'm pretty sure that he's my least favorite in any of Dessen's novels. He was so... arrogant. Too clingy. I hated it. But hey, he was a dater who loved events and was just really arrogant. That's who he was. And I hope that he's one of those characters that stays in the vault and never shows up again. Sorry, Sarah.

Anyways, Dessen always brings the same thing to the bookshelves: true things that happens. I hope that made sense; I wasn't really sure how to word it. This book, although not my favorite, was fabulous, and as she is my favorite author ever, I do recommend this novel, along with all eleven others. Overall rating, 4.5.

Carey on: New Sarah Dessen Covers?

Two weeks ago, Sarah Dessen announced that her paperbacks were going to get new covers. At first I was sort of "eh" about it. I love the original covers of any book more than their new ones (except for So Much Closer by Susane Colasanti, I think the paperback cover is better than the hard cover, sue me). So I was nervous about how Penguin was going to do with them.

And then they started to be released, one a day for each book on a different website. And oh my gosh I loved them all so much! Well, for the most part, at least. Check them out (and my opinions because I can):

Before|After

I love the sunglasses, and how they're closer to the camera lens than the couple. I think the color scheme is a lot better than the original as well.

I don't quite understand why exactly they're butterflies on the new cover. But I don't think there should be a couple (which there's not) on it, considering Macon and Halley don't end up together in the end. (Sorry for the spoiler if you haven't read it!)

I always thought that the original was so awkward. I mean, a picture of this girl's shorts is just so awkward! Although I do love the sunglasses there, the new cover is perfect! There were a lot of fireworks in the story and I love the model's positions. Plus, I bet that it was fun to shoot!

I think this is the only new cover that I don't like. I don't really understand at all. And I think that it's too bright for Dreamland. Dreamland is so dark and eerie that it deserves a darker cover. This just doesn't do it for me.

Love the color, love the guitar pick, and love the guitar. Perfect, perfect, perfect!

I wanted that bracelet the second that I saw the new cover. I even went over to AC Moore and got some beads and a wishbone charm to make one! Yeah, that didn't work out quite so well, so I just bought one on Etsy hehe. I love the colors, the bracelet, and it's just perfect. (This is probably my favorite Dessen book, by the way.)

How cute is that?! Answer: extremely.

I'm glad that they still kept her listening to music on the cover, considering that was a big part. I just like how you can see her entire body positioned how I always thought she was while she listened to the mix. The colors are perfect, too. I know I keep saying that...

This is my favorite new cover. I just like how it's so bold and it just shoves the key in your face. Once again, the colors are perf. Oh, and here's a fun fact. I named my new car after Ruby! Not because I'm "so obsessed" or anything. It's just that she's red, and Ruby was the first thing that came to mind. Plus, Ruby loves to get out and she drove around a lot with her mom. It was perfect! Look at her!

So quaint. 

I always thought that the original cover was adorable, yet sort of awkward and uncomfortable. I still think that it should have been darker outside in both covers, just because they're both insomniacs and they meet in the night a lot. But I love the color of the bike (of course I do, right?) 

What Happened to Goodbye, her latest novel (May 2011) isn't getting a new cover, considering the fact that it isn't out in paperback yet. And honestly, I thought that this was the only cover that should have gotten a new one. I don't know why I don't like it, but I don't.

Dessen will be coming out with her latest book, Someone Else's Summer in May 2013. Originally it was to be named The Best After Ever, but (and you can read on her blog why) her publisher decided to change the title. Someone Else's Summer is set in the fictional beach town of Colby, where several of Dessen’s novels take place, it features 18-year-old Emmeline, who is spending her last summer before college working for her family’s vacation rental business and enjoying a summer romance with a young aspiring filmmaker. It sucks that we have to wait another year until it comes out, but I'm sure it will be worth the wait!