Happy Saturday! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This was an easy 5 star story for me. I have loved Sarah Dessen for years and this newest book “The Rest of the Story” was such a beautiful read.
Before starting my review, I do want to add a trigger warning!
TW: alcohol/ drug abuse and addiction
Emma Saylor lost her mom a few years ago to addiction. When a few things go wrong after her dad’s new wedding, she finds herself spending a few weeks where her mom grew up, with her mom’s family, in the beautiful North Lake. She quickly realizes while they knew about her and thought about her, she said she didn’t even know she should be thinking about them.
Reconnecting with new old family, Emma Saylor starts to learn the rest of the story about her mother.. the parts her dad was too hurt and sad to talk about. These new stories of her mom come with reconnecting to an old friend, and the start of a new flame.
This book contains so much. There is a brief touch on mental health and anxiety, family struggles, divorce, father daughter relationships, teenage relationships, grief and loss, and so much more. It was heavy, it was relatable, and it was so graceful in its writing and processing all of these tough emotions as a young girl. It is a great YA read for all ages.
My 6 word review:
Emma Saylor learns who she is
