The Truth About Forever

The second book by this author I have read in a week, she must have been a popular author a few years back…  Sarah Dessen’s book The Truth About Forever, which I liked better than the previous one I read last week, is the story of a young girl named Macy, whose father suddenly passes away one morning on the day she doesn’t join him for their daily father-daughter run. Macy is a “perfect” daughter in so many ways, a good student, loves being with her parents, and does all she is told.  She is a stand-out cross country runner on the high school team and top of the academic list at her school.  After her father passes away, she looks inwardly, as does her mother, and gives up running and turns to her studies and boyfriend, who is even more focused academically than her (if that is possible).  The story begins a year after her father has passed and her boyfriend (Justin) is leaving for an eight week summer academic program.  The reader gets a glimpse into the relationship when he gently “pecks” her forehead with a kiss goodbye and a reminder to do the library job he has asked her to fill in for him.  He shows little emotion, in fact, after he receives an email a few days after his trip from Macy saying “love you” he sends a note to “take a break from the relationship”.  Oy vey!  This kid is way too focused!  While Macy doubts herself and laments how she can “hold on” to Justin, follow her mom’s demands, and hold her feelings for her father’s death inside, she has a changing experience…. Being thrown into working a catering event at her home when an event at the house goes awry.  Macy jumps in and helps the event, much to her mother’s chagrin, but meets the team of the catering group that will change her life… in so many ways.   It’s funny how one event in our life can change so many things, especially an event that seemingly is mundane and we happen to walk into it by mistake.  Macy learns some key lessons about life, love, and being able to face her emotions.  The boy, yes of course this is a teen book!, who does it is Wes, a young boy (her age) who was arrested for breaking in homes with friends as a teenager, yet has changed his life. Their “game” that Macy introduces while running out of gas on a catering event called “Truth” forces Macy to turn inward to find her truth about the relationship with her mother, her boyfriend Justin, and finally her growing feelings for Wes…  We only change when we see that which we are avoiding that is in front of us.  Like all good teen books, yes there is a happy ending, almost all around!  Learning is painful, and this time the pain doesn’t kill them, but does open the eyes. A really nice read, now this one could be read on a beach. Not sure my obsession for reading on a beach, oh well.  Good book even though does come across as somewhat trite and not that deep, for sure.