After the scandal of her mother’s
affair, Mclean and her dad choose a life on the road. But since losing her
family and home, Mclean has lost herself too: she’s been Eliza, then Lizbet,
then Beth – changing her name as she changes towns.
Until now. Her neighbour, Dave, is
like no one she’s met before. It’s as if she’s always known him, and just like
that, she becomes Mclean again. Is it finally time to stop reinventing? Or will
Mclean turn her back on the new life she loves, without even saying goodbye…
I think nearly everybody has had that
moment in school where they wish they could just change and be somebody else.
This book is just that a girl changing herself to who she wants to be, but this
book is proof that only your true self can last. It starts in a dusty
restaurant where you get the first glimpse of the characters Mclean and her
dad. And it reveals the relationship they have, her dad almost feeling guilty
about uprooting his daughter again but Mclean is used to it and nothing seems
to bother her.
The mother/daughter relationship is
troubled and Sarah Dessen reveals that she can tackle relationships well. Since
the way Mclean reacts is the way I think I’d react, whilst I can see her mum’s
view as well. However after this recent move Mclean it meeting her mum again,
and this time it works out as all resentment and things that had been left
unsaid finally came out.
The relationships Mclean develops
between her and friends is a good example of that people will like you if
you’re yourself. Deb is a great friend for Mclean as they both know what it’s
like been on the outside and new. Whilst I think friends like Riley and Heather
are perfect for Mclean since they are down to earth and realistic. Dave is the
main reason I think that Mclean wants to stay and he is also perfect for her,
since he’s clever and another down to earth person.
I love how Sarah Dessen writes about
relationships and the delicate situations between families. She writes like how
a real family would cope, with shouting and then reasonable conversations. The
ending was good, after a sweet build up of Dave and Mclean’s relationship and
basically all the relationships in the book. Overall a fabulous read
that I recommend.
3 stars
out of 5
