Book Review - What Happened to Goodbye

What Happened to Goodbye
Author: Sarah Dessen
Standalone
Genres: Contemporary | Young Adult
Release Date: 10th May 2011
May 10th 2011
Publishers: Viking Juvenile
No. Pages: 402
Source: Borrowed
Rating:
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Who is the real McLean?

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.

This story is set from Mclean's point of view. Mclean lives with her dad, Gus, after her parents divorce 2 years ago when her mum had an affair with the new coach to the Defriese University basket ball team, a team that both Mclean and her dad adore. Mclean and her dad have moved three times in the space of 2 years, and are making Lakeview their fourth. They move around a lot for her dads job at EAT. INC , in which is made to bring failing restaurants back to their former glory. Every town they have lived in Mclean has been someone else from the perky cheerleader girl to the drama student, but this time she's none other than just pan Mclean. Only problem is, after playing someone else for so long she's forgotten who she is.

Luna Blu is the name of the restaurant this time, and its run but a women named Opal who has been there ever since she was a teenager, in one way or another. Before they moved to town, Opal accidentally accepts the responsibility of making a model of the town for her old school friend, and in the end gets Mclean and her friends aboard with the building, after the community service delinquents that were assigned to it don't turn up after the first day

Her friends consist of Dave, also her neighbour and boy genius, once going to elite private school but decided to transfers to Jackson to get a normal high school experience. He was caught drinking underage and where as the others are doing the model out of the goodness of their hearts, he actually has to be there for community service. Mclean and Dave spend a lot of time together, and in that time feelings start to grow. But Mclean is never ready to give her heart over, as she never knows when she'll be up and leaving next. We have Deb (one of my favourite characters) who welcomes Mclean to school on the first day, and after a while slowly but surely becomes friends with the rest. She's a very upbeat girl and has a positive attitude for just about everything. At first glance she's your typical high school nerd but once Mclean, and the rest start to get to know her, they soon see there is a lot more to her that meets the eye. Like her extensive knowledge of tattoos, or the fact that she's a drummer (once for a heavy rock band). Next is Riley, Dave's childhood best friend and soon a very close friend of Mcleans. She's ferociously defensive of Dave and is very loyal and lastly Heather. She's a girl with an in your face attitude and is not afraid to say what's on her mind, please or offend.

When Mclean is in Lakeview a few months it looks like her dad is getting ready to jump ship again. Which is confirmed when she finds out he's been offered another job in Hawaii. Struggling to cop with the ideas of moving again, specially after feeling at home for the first time since her parents divorce, things get worse when her friends stumble upon all of her old Ume pages with her fake names and fake personality's. Rather then tell them why, she escapes and goes to the beach with her mum for the week. but ends up feeling more lo. After a heart to heart with her mum and dad they finally decide what's best for her, and she returns to Lakeview (for how long we don't know) to await the mess she left behind.

This books was just wow.. Like really wow. I couldn't put it down (like any other Sarah Dessen books I read) and just loved how well thought out and put together everything was. I think my favourite thing of all, even though it was upsetting, was her backstory. I thought it was genius haha. The characters were very loveable and sweet and just fitted into the story completely. Nothing felt out of place. Defiantly would recommend this one to any Sarah Dessen fan or any YA contemporary fans.