Goodreads Monday is a weekly meme hosted by Lauren’s Page Turners. To participate, choose a random book from your TBR and show it off! Check out this week’s post to share your links.

This meme is quick and fun every week, and oh boy, did this week’s random selection give me throwback feels!

What Happened to Goodbye

Author: Sarah Dessen

Genre: Fiction, Young Adult

Publication Date: May 10, 2011

Since her parents’ bitter divorce, McLean and her dad, a restaurant consultant, have been on the move-four towns in two years. Estranged from her mother and her mother’s new family, McLean has followed her dad in leaving the unhappy past behind. And each new place gives her a chance to try out a new persona: from cheerleader to drama diva. But now, for the first time, McLean discovers a desire to stay in one place and just be herself, whoever that is. Perhaps Dave, the guy next door, can help her find out.

I was a major Sarah Dessen fan growing up, and I devoured her books religiously, starting with Someone Like You. But I hit a reading slump after Along for the Ride that I didn’t recover from for … years? That’s a whole other story, though. Even though her work isn’t in the genres I now gravitate toward, I’ve still been eyeing the books she’s released in the meantime longingly. What Happened to Goodbye was the first one that I missed, and I’m glad this meme reminded me I need to make time for it!

Fingers crossed I get a chance to give Sarah Dessen’s work a shot again sooner than later. I always loved the relatable nature of her characters and her romances (surprisingly, because I usually run from romance). My favorite books by her have always been This Lullaby, The Truth About Forever, and Just Listen … maybe I’ll have to queue up a re-read, too (even though I’m a little worried they might not hold the same enchantment for me that they did ten years ago).

If anything, her most recent release, Once and For All is part of my Popsugar Reading Challenge this year for a book with song lyrics in the title (Newsies, anyone?). So I’ll definitely be squeezing in at least one Sarah Dessen book relatively soon.

Does anyone else have an author they’ve kept up with since growing up? Do you revisit childhood favorites? I’d love to hear if there are any other Sarah Dessen fans out there, too!

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Author: Kaila

My name is Kaila, and I'm a bibliophile with a love of traveling and adventure. When I'm not buried in a book - preferably mysteries, thrillers, and fantasies - you'll find me at work as a software engineer or training as an amateur Muay Thai fighter ... no dull moments here! View all posts by Kaila