Friday 4 May 2012

What Happened to Goodbye


Mclean never lets herself get too attached…

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


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