girlinthepages
Written on Jul 27, 2019
The Setting | I was a little hesitant that this was a summer lake story that wasn't set in Colby, but I LOVED North Lake. I grew up going to the lake and staying in cabins at a resort that feels very similar to Calvander's and I can tell you, that sense of community that Dessen creates for this story is SO ACCURATE. From the families that rent out the same cabin the same week every year to hanging out on the docks to the picnics and barbecues overlooking the water, the story really captures the essence of a small lake community during the summer. I also love how North Lake was juxtaposed with Lake North, the bougie, upscale resort on the other side of the lake, and the tension and drama that followed the relationships that were formed across lake lines (including that of Harper's parents).
The Characters | Emma "Saylor" was a typical Dessen protagonist : quiet, observant, always the bridesmaid and never the bride sort of girl who needed to be coaxed out of her shell a bit. But she also has a LOT of baggage and heavy backstory from her addict mother who's memory hangs over her like a cloud and keeps many from seeing her as an individual at times. The secondary characters, especially Saylor's relatives and large cast of cousins, were absolute gems. I loved Trinity, Saylor's very pregnant and very blunt older cousin who tells it like it is and forces Saylor to have a different perspective on a lot of things in life. I loved both of her grandmothers, who were extremely strong women in their own ways, whether they were hard working motel owners or well off family matriarchs holding their family together. Saylor is truly a child of a star crossed romance between North Lake and Lake North, and I loved how she had family on both sides that accepted and supported her.
The Romance | Roo is definitely my #1 Dessen love interest. He works like 5 jobs, is unwaverigly kind, and uniquely attractive with his white blonde hair and lake coordinate tattoos on his legs. He's undoubtedly a tragic character with his father dying so young and his clear torch he's held for Saylor for like 13 years, but it's also impossible to pity him because his personality is such a bright light and his various odd jobs bring such hilarious situations to the story (I particularly loved his stint as a telemarketer selling storm shutters, the conversations that ensued between him and Saylor when he would call her at work were HILARIOUS). My one complaint though is that his journey with Saylor is the epitome of a sloooow burnnnn.
The Family Dynamics | Another thing Dessen always nails are complex family dynamics in her books, especially with parents. Saylor's dynamic with her parents is especially intriguing because her mother is deceased, yet it's almost as though she must constantly compete with her mother's memory, whether it be insisting she won't make the same mistakes or not being trusted due to her DNA. This especially comes to a boiling point with her father toward the end of the book, who only wants Saylor to embrace her North Lake roots when it's convenient for HIM (ugh he made me so mad). Luckily, Saylor had wonderful grandmothers on both sides who helped her navigate the fractured family memories and biases that she was up against.
Overall: The Rest of the Story sets the stage for a new era of Dessen novels in a new lake town and I am here for it! It ranks right up there with Along for the Ride, Dreamland and Just Listen as one of my all time favorite Dessen novels!This review was originally posted on Girl in the Pages
