Published: May 5, 2015 by: Viking Juvenile
Pages: 417
Rating: 2/5 stars
In Sarah Dessen's most moving and deep book, we follow Sydney, a quiet girl who has always lived in her rebellious brother Peyton's shadow. But when Peyton's actions land him in jail, Sydney thinks that all hope for her family is lost. Then enters the Catham family, a quirky and imperfect group that take Sydney under their wing, and show her that a family must stick together, even in their darkest times.
I was looking forward to starting this book, but to be honest, it kind of disappointed me. I loved the concept and the lessons of the book, but I didn't find it all that interesting.
To start with the positives, I really loved how beautifully flawed the characters were. Each character had their own characteristics that made them unique, and each one could be relatable and realistic. I especially loved how the eldest Catham brother, Mack, was so kind and caring to the ones he loved, even if he may have been broken inside. Every character was not cliche in the slightest.
I also loved the lesson in this book. I usually view Dessen's books to be fluffy and feel-good, but I actually found a much deeper meaning in this book. It was insightful and thoughtful, and right up my alley.
To the negatives now, I didn't find this book to be that intriguing or captivating, The plot was kind of boring, and I just couldn't find myself dying to turn the page. I even found myself to be confused at times as to what even was going on. I think it could have been structured better.
I just found it to be quite boring. Nothing was quite climactic, and nothing left me awestruck. I thought that the book could have used some more descriptive words. It was just dull and bland.
Overall, I was disappointed by this book. While I loved the message the author was trying to convey, and all the characters, I found it fell flat with plot.
Have you read Saint Anything? What did you think?
Emily @ Paperback Princess
I definitely can see how the plot was a little disappointing, especially because her other books have such intricate plot lines. I think I enjoyed it a bit more, but it wasn't her best. Nice review!
ReplyDeleteI feel like I like her fluffier books rather than her deeper books!
DeleteEmily! I read this one a few weeks back and like you, was a bit disappointed. For me, Saint Anything really lacked that emotional impact, and the storyline was a bit dull at times. I agree, however, that Dessen was able to create memorable characters. Great review!
ReplyDeleteJulia Anne @ Peach Print
Characters are definitely something that Dessen does well. Thanks for stopping by, Julia Anne!
DeleteBeautifully flawed characters? I LOVE BEAUTIFULLY FLAWED CHARACTERS. But since contemporaries (which is not my strongest genre) NEED to be intriguing for me, otherwise it's a no-no. I was thinking this book would be better after all the hype!
ReplyDeleteRanu @ The Araliya Bookshelf
Maybe it would be better after everything settles down a bit. I'd say to still give it a try :)
Delete