Name: Once and for All
ISBN: 9780425290330

Sarah Dessen

Cynical about happy endings, Louna, the daughter of a wedding planner, initially holds Ambrose at arm's length, but Ambrose has finally found someone to save him from his serial dating ways, and he's not about be discouraged.

A Novel

Once and for All

Louna's years working at her mother's wedding planning business--as well as the tragic end of her first love--have shaped her cynical views on romance, but the arrival of serial-dater Ambrose may start to change Louna's mind and give her a second chance at love.

Jess

This review was originally posted at GonewiththeWords.com So one morning at work I opted to listen to an audiobook instead of my usual Spotify choice. While scrolling through my audiobook choices I landed on Once and for All and thought, “YES!” I still think it’s one of the better decisions I’ve made at such early hours of the morning. Just moments after I started listening I was drawn back into the world of Sarah Dessen. Her style is so distinct to me that it took me way back to when I first discovered her books. The narrator, Karissa Vacker, was just wonderful too. She had a voice and delivery that had me hooked to the story. I liked Louna from the start. Even though she was guarded and a bit standoffish at first, her reasons for being that way were totally warranted. Louna experienced something so terrible and awful! That part of the story is totally relevant to today’s issues in our country. I’m glad Sarah Dessen could show us how such an act can affect someone life and mental health. And because of this part of the story we kind of get two love interests in this book, which is a-ok by me because nobody can write a swoony boy quite like Sarah Dessen. My other favorite part of Once and for All was Louna’s mom and her best friend, William. I love the relationship those three had. William practically raised Louna with Louna’s mom and so their dynamic is something really special. Both of them are a huge part of this book and are never shown in a negative light. This made me so happy because often in YA books, the parents have issues with their kids and that’s not always the case in actual, real life. ALSO! I got the B&amp;N Exclusive Edition and it comes with an epilogue you’re not going to want to miss because CAMEOS! Overall this was a great start and I’m so happy it was the first I started AND FINISHED in 2018! Go out and read it soon!

alexandra

4.5./5 • i was in a huge reading slump when i began Once and for All, so i'm really surprised i binged it in two days. everything about the story was super cute! this was my first sarah dessen book (jk i read one in the early early days of YA and i remember NOTHING so i count this as my first) and there were lots of good things said; Once and for All didn't disappoint. it's a solid contemporary romance. there's nothing wrong with it, but it also didn't make me super emotional. the only complaint i have is that i wish the ending was longer. other than that, i'm happy with everything in this novel. :)

Beatrix Haase

It was a very cute contemporary book. This was the first Sarah Dessen book that I have read and I was very happy with how it was. I heard amazing things about this author and I think that her writing is beautiful and tells a story very very well.

Full Review To Come

xoxo,
Bebe

Jeannette Ordas

Ugh. I was hoping for a sweet Sarah Dessen YA romance but this was terrible. Everyone was boring and I didn't care about anyone or anything. There's also a very topical/political thing that goes down and it's like an aside and not mentioned further. I was hoping Dessen would delve into it a bit and make a stance, be political, be modern, but nope. It gets washed up. Left a bad taste in my mouth.

Connor 

WHAT A DELIGHT. Beautifully written, with that peculiar balance of heart and humor that Sarah Dessen seems to have mastered--and, of course, it's always fun to keep a running list of old favorites returning. (Also, if you can get the B&N edition to read the epilogue, do it.)

Ally Gagliardo

Classic, heartwarming Sarah Dessen. Without giving too much away, I liked the idea of the two love stories being told at once. It was different than her other books in that aspect and I really enjoyed it. I don't cry often at book but this one made me tear up during many chapters because I could feel exactly how Louna felt. Overall, great, easy read.

Emi Gilmore 

2.25/5 stars

  Ambrose would again reach out a hand, asking me to dance. And this time, I'd say yes.

  
I decided to quote the very last sentence of this book because it was my favorite line throughout this entire thing. It meant it was finally  over. 

 warning: unmarked spoilers 

Huge thank you @SarahDessen, as I almost forgotten what disappointment felt like. 
 
This book was supposed to be  good.  It was supposed to be  cute . It was supposed to make me want to actually leave my house and fall in love with some overly-handsome dude. What it wasn’t supposed to do was let me down like a casket in a grave. After I was finally finished with this trainwreck, this was pretty much how I felt about romance in general:



Please don't tell 16-year-old Emi that I'm rating a Sarah Dessen book two stars. I don't want her coming after me.
 
Was I suppose to like Ambrose? Like was it intended for me to think he was amazing and want him to be my boyfriend? Becuase I don't think it was possible for me to hate him any more than I already do. Luckily Ambrose is an uncommon name because if I ever have to see it again, I’d think I’d claw my eyes out. 

Because  Ambrose  Ambrosia was the most  annoying  character I have ever read about. He wasn't funny, or cute, or interesting, or lovable. He was fucking annoying and I was #done with him by chapter three. 

It didn't help that the first time we met him, he was flirting with a girl instead of supporting his mother at her wedding. 

He actually delayed the wedding because they couldn't find him. 

Flirting with girls   is not more important than your mother's wedding!   He shouldn't have to be told that. 



Later in the book, Ambrosia stole a dog from a possibly abusive owner. Which is great and all. No dog deserves to be abused. But he  stole  the dog and didn't face any consequences. No one got mad at him. He didn't get a talking to by the police or anything. He stole a dog and everything was okay. That's not okay!!!

Then we have  Louna  Louney who is still "getting over" the death of her boyfriend Ethan. I say "getting over" because she was literally never upset about his death unless it contributed to the plot. Which is rarely did. I would also have like Louney a lot more if she hadn't had sex on the beach and said "I love you" to Ethan approximately 39 seconds after meeting him. 



Louney works for her mother, who is an infamous wedding planner, and her mother's business partner, William. They are all single pringles who hate love and don't believe in happily ever after. They also hire Ambrosia to help out at the weddings after he destroys their tape dispenser bc why the hell not. I didn't really understand exactly why.

Other than the entire wedding thing, Louney was one of the most boring protagonists ever. I didn't feel any concern for her at all. She could have been replaced with a brick and it would have been more interesting to read about.

If you weren't able to predict it, Louney and Ambrosia like each other. But they don't want to admit it. Until Ambrosia does and Louney freaks out for no reason and the second half of this entire book they don't talk to each other. Louney starts dating this nice, normal, not-annoying guy named Ben until the last chapter when something happened (I was too busy skimming to really understand what happened. I think Ambrosia got hit by a car. Maybe it was the dog he stole. I don't really care to go back and figure it out) and Louney decides that she loves Ambrosia and makes out with him whILE SHE'S STILL ON A DATE WITH BEN. Because she has no respect. So she then starts dating Ambrosia instead and the end. The book is over. #BenDeservesBetter #WhatEvenWasThatEnding

There was no character development through this entire book. Ambrosia was annoying from the beginning to end while Louney was consistently boring. I thought maybe Louney's best friend, Jilly, would have some development. She was constantly having to take care of her four brothers and sisters so much that it affected her social life. I thought "Maybe Jilly will stand up for herself and make her parents take care of their children for once." I was wrong. Jilly continued to babysit her siblings without even a complaint. 



TBH the only good part of this book was when it finally ended bc it meant that I was free of this prison. 

Maybe next time Sarah Dessen.

Sophia Hofmann 

It was very beautiful and made me cry. A classic love story with very likeable characters, but a bit too many flashbacks for my taste. I guess that's just me though as they do give a lot of information about her character development and just make you feel happy for the main character... Until you realize how sad that is.

I guess I would reccomend it to someone who is looking for a book that has a light tone but a lot of feelings.

Anna Campbell

** spoiler alert **
           Sarah Dessen always writes pleasant and predictable books. I did enjoy this one, it was just so cookie cutter. But including a school shooting tragedy, as is happening all too often lately, was very interesting.

anderson elizabeth

okay technically a 4.5 for me BUT ELI AND AUDEN MADE A BRIEF APPEARANCE AND I ALMOST CRIED I LOVE THEM. but okay so initial reaction this book made me want to cry muptiple times and i really enjoyed how the flashbacks were more structured than dessen's normal books

From Sarah Dessen, the beloved New York Times bestselling author of SAINT ANYTHING and JUST LISTEN, comes a new novel set in the world of wedding planning! Is it really better to have loved and lost? Louna's summer job is to help brides plan their perfect day, even though she stopped believing in happily-ever-after when her first love ended tragically. But charming girl-magnet Ambrose isn't about to be discouraged now that he's met the one he really wants. Maybe Louna's second chance is standing right in front of her. Sarah Dessen’s many fans will adore this latest novel, a richly satisfying, enormously entertaining story with humor, romance, and an ending that is so much more than happily-ever-after.

Kayce Champion 

** spoiler alert **
           Sarah Dessen will always have a special place in my heart since I grew up reading her books. Picking one up is always a fondness that I enjoy. That being said, this was not a book I found myself as deeply immersed in. Dessen's books are always the same development (girl with the unique background of trauma/sadness, meets new place/people and a boy comes along and voila). This was a little too predictable for me. The minute Ambrose showed up I knew he was just going to be something I had read before and unfortunately he was.

Louna is not a character with much personality. While she has her background and relationships clearly established, her characterization is overran by the predictable plot and secondary characters. Most of her individual struggles deal with her boyfriend's passing during a school shooting. While that is a very traumatic and heart wrenching part, I don't think it was explored as much as it could have been. It was very glazed over, even when Ambrose found out at Lauren's cousin's wedding and said something to her about it. She glazed right over it and moved on. Her emotions were very flat for someone with so much depth to explore.

I honestly am not a big fan of someone getting sacrificed for a happy ending. In this case it was a nice guy named Ben who pursued Louna and ended up dumped on her birthday as she finally admits her feelings for Ambrose. That was a poor ending for me. While I wanted to root for them, I wouldn't go about it this way. Not to mention Louna is only dating him to avoid dealing with Ambrose? I was honestly confused by the justifications. I felt this could've have happened better, but the only way would be to make Louna a more compelling character and in comparison to other main characters that Sarah Dessen has created, she just doesn't measure up.

The book was...okay. I previously read Saint Anything just before this and I found myself appreciating that book more because of this one. The plot at its core is promising but ultimately comes out predictable and lackluster. I didn't root for Louna and Ambrose the way I've rooted for other characters. 

All in all, Sarah Dessen has so many good stories. This one just doesn't compare to what I've read before and I hope won't be the same as what she will release in the future.

Kaley Catron

This was cute. Definitely much better than I was expecting. I think between the last three Sarah Dessen books I’ve read that they’re so much better than the originals that everyone else is so obsessed with 😂 (the last three meaning The Moon and More, Saint Anything and Once and for All as compared to lock and key and like along for the ride which I COULD NOT FINISH FOR THE LIFE OF ME)

Becky

3.5 stars

This is definitely not my favourite Sarah Dessen book but it's a solid addition to her many book releases. I just didn't fall head over heels for Louna or Ambrose. They were nice and I was rooting for their romance all the way but there was something missing.

I really enjoyed seeing Louna break from her shell as she got over a major loss. It was great to see her slowly relax and let her hair down and remember the parts of herself she thought were lost for good and getting to see them come out because of someone else. And Ambrose was so much nicer than the first meeting made him seem. He was such a kind caring guy who made mistakes but wanted the best for folks. I wish we had gotten more of his backstory though. I know this wasn't meant to be all about the romance but more about Louna but he had a major part in the story and a lot of his story was lost. We never got everything and that was sad because he was an interesting guy.

This has made me want to reread some Sarah Dessen favourites though. And it was nice to clear a book off the shelf that had been gathering dust for far too long.

Kayla 

I feel bad giving it only three stars. Had one part of the story been changed I think I would have absolutely adored this book. I was not expecting a tragic event when I started reading this book. The synopsis made it out to be a cute read revolving around weddings about a boy who is your typical player/commitment phobe and a girl who knows better and is guarded. I was hoping for cute banter, a fun twist and a happy ending which to be fair I got however it was all masked by the tragic ending to the protagonist’s first relationship and I couldn’t ever move past it.

Hannah Borgmann '

Lauren Lopez

Will I be 65 years old and still reading teen novels written by Sarah Dessen? Probably.

Louna is the daughter of a sought after wedding planner. She’s seen her fair share of disappointing loves and she’s experienced a heartbreak unlike any other. When a young person loses the person they call their “epic love,” it is already the end of the world as they know it during that stage in their life. How do they cope when they lose them in a tragic, unimaginable way? 

She has become a girl that no longer sees a point in trying to find her true love. She already had one and people don’t get two chances at that. Or do they?

When Louna’s mom hires Ambrose you can tell that something is going to happen. A fire is sparked in Louna (even if it is just an immense annoyance at Ambrose’s presence) that her family and best friend haven’t seen in her for months. The only person who seems to be oblivious to it all is Louna, who you can’t exactly blame after what she’s been through. 

Ambrose is a person that didn’t know her tragedy and how it affected her. She is able to focus on moving forward and healing. Once she realizes where her heart is leading her, she has to decide whether she’s willing to put it all on the line again or live in fear of being hurt all over again. 

Sarah Dessen wrote this story beautifully, and she was able to make a heartbreaking scenario that has become too common in society feel personal. She’s the best at creating quirky love interests that you can’t help but hope to find for yourself one day. This is yet another book I became consumed with of hers, and I can’t wait to read what she has for us next.

Alexis 

3 1/2 stars. I was really looking forward to this book, that being said I feel like it was a bit of a let down. I enjoyed it yes but I felt like it was missing something. That being said the storyline with Ethan gave me the feels, every time it was brought up my heart ached. Overall it was an okay book, it's not my favorite book from Sarah Dessen.

Becca Leigh

Nice! Sarah Dessen hasn't disappointed me yet!

This isn't my favorite of her books, but I still loved it. I do think this book gets a lot more interesting about halfway through. 

Also, the extra chapter/scene included in my copy was very enjoyable. Worth it!

Iween Suni

Could I have asked for more from my writing hero?

Sarah has done it yet again. And this, might be one of my most favourites from her of all. 

I absolutely loved the narrative for this - everything was told in pieces, and in the most beautiful way. The characters were loveable and the story in itself was funny and endearing and a through and through gem. 

I didn't want the story to end. 

But now that I've read it to its end, I'm happy to say that this book will stay with me forever, once and for all.

Alisha E Tucker

Book made me want to become a wedding planner 🤣

Allyson Marrs

Sarah Dessen has a niche. Yes, she writes YA, but she specializes in female narrators struggling with emotional honesty. Once and for All is no different. Louna is a jaded 18-year-old working for her mother's wedding planning business and trying to keep distracted from her own sadness. Self-imposed isolation and denial make her journey a lonely one.

Most Dessen fans will recognize this plot. Many of her books share it in varying forms. I've read all 13. Even knowing what to expect with every one of her stories (young woman is trepidatious about love, worsening when she meets some quirky/dangerous/funny/persistent/adorable/charming man, pushing him and everyone away because of SOME. BIG. EVENT. IN. HER. PAST., until she realizes that was then and this is now, and gives him a chance, falling in love, and finally learning to be happy again.

Yet, I continue to read them. Because Sarah Dessen is a lovely writer. Yes, she's gotten into the bad habit of "calling back" to past characters or businesses in her new books (something I find painfully self-aware), but she still writes each new book with heart. 

I liked Once and for All because the characters, like typical Dessen, are well-developed. Ancillary characters provide just enough support, just enough personality, and just enough history with our narrator to drive the plot forward at an easy-to-read-in-a-weekend pace. Plus, a wedding planning setting adds a lot of humor. Who doesn't love complaining about weddings?

While the plot here was mostly predictable, the characters felt real, which is really what I'm after when diving into a book. I want to believe these are real people I might meet, or have. I want to feel for them, to root for them, and to hate when they make stupid, selfish decisions. I don't want flowery language to distract from the story. I don't want four plots competing with each other. I don't want detailed history for every character. 

Dessen knows how to write a book that makes you want to finish it the second you start it. Sure, she has room to "change it up" a bit, in terms of plot, but there's something comforting about knowing exactly what you're going to get from an author. She's like my childhood blanket — warm and soothing.

b.andherbooks

Louna doesn't believe in happily ever after. Her first love ended tragically and she's witnessed countless weddings thanks to her mom's wedding planning business, and most of those don't last either. But, a charmer named Ambrose may change her mind once and for all.

Super sweet, and so Sarah Dessen. A perfect novel for a breezy June day.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

Ciska van Bokhorst

Leuk boek. Vooral het kijkje in de keuken bij wedding planners. Doen veel meer dan ik dacht en dan tijdens de plechtigheid. Maar vond het boek verder een beetje.. tja... vlak. 
Niet de emotionele trein die ik verwachte zeg maar.

Amanda 

This is my first Sarah Dessen book, it was okay. It could have been a 100 pages shorter and been just as good. I didn't particularly care for any of the main characters but I felt horrible for Louna and her loss.

Once and for All A Novel