Sarah Dessen Read-Along discussion

Start your discussions on the first 25% of WHAT HAPPENED TO GOODBYE here!

I’m on page 18 and I have some thoughts on McLean’s introduction to the neighbour boy. Mainly, I know that my reaction would have been to tell my dad. How do you feel about her silence and about the guy’s overall introduction?

Also, what’s up with her choosing such common, old-fashioned names—and variations of the same name—as her aliases?

Pg. 33–who else has read other books by her? Does anyone else feel like her main characters are often interchangeable? And yet I love her books so much...

I haven't started reading yet, but all her main characters are definitely similar: girls with tragic/dysfunctional backstories that have weird quirks. The only main characters of hers that stand out for me are the ones I first read, which became my favourite books of hers. I don't even remember McLean, so it'll be like reading the book for the first time again!

I agree with you both! The main characters are often similar (and the plotlines) though I love Sarah Dessen regardless! Sometimes I can't remember which ones I've read because they're so alike.