Review: This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen

This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen
Published: May 27th 2002
Details: Paperback, 345 pages
Disclosure: Bought on Amazon.com
Summary (goodreads):
When it comes to relationships, Remy doesn't mess around. After all, she's learned all there is to know from her mother, who's currently working on husband number five. But there's something about Dexter that seems to defy all of Remy's rules. He certainly doesn't seem like Mr. Right. For some reason, however, Remy just can't seem to shake him. Could it be that Remy's starting to understand what those love songs are all about?

I literally just finished this book. It's 4:02AM and I just had to write this review... right now. First of all, I remember passing by this book so many times over the years I've lost track. The image on the cover was used for one the most seen LiveJournal icons in 2002 with text something along the lines of "don't break my paper heart" or something. I should find that icon, I know I have it saved somewhere... anyway, with that said, I regret all the times I walked passed this book and I'm sitting here wondering (why I'm not asleep for one) why I hadn't picked it up soon!

This Lullaby is about a girl named Remy who thinks she knows everything. She's got it all figured out, you know, this relationship stuff. She works with a timeline and she cycles through guys. She thinks her method is keeping her safe from heartbreak and with a mother like her's who's on her fifth marriage (after Remy's dad died who wrote and dedicated "This Lullaby" to her), can you really blame the girl? Her and her brother Chris use to be a team, they thought the same way about all this love-marriage-love crap but then he met his girlfriend and he started to change and Remy didn't like it (I think it was mentioned that she was named after the drink Remy Martin and I thought it was cool cause that's my favorite -- and only favorite -- drink lol). 

While waiting for Don, her soon-to-be fifth step-father to discuss wedding plans she (literally) runs into Dexter. Who is everything she's not looking for in a boyfriend. But he's persistent (and I love persistence in my books) and eventually she warms up to him. Everything after that would be a spoiler :).

I love this book. If it wasn't obvious already. I love how strong the characters were, their personalities were strong and while you were reading Remy's mom's novel, it felt like Remy was in the room reading it with you. The plot was strong and it had a lot of unexpected turns. I didn't feel like there was enough scenes with Remy's mom, but I did love the times where there were scenes of her mom. I loved how adorable Dexter's character was. He wasn't perfect or swoon worthy but I loved how sweet he was to Remy all the time even when she obviously made it clear she wanted nothing to do with him. And it made me kind of mad how mean she was to him but I loved how he just kept coming back. I loved the panic in Remy as soon as she started to notice the change and I loved the girl talks between her and her friends. 

I easily related to Remy because I was the same way in high school and I was in the same position at one point and I remember back to how scary and confusing and how you fought with yourself for months about it. I was exactly like Remy. And my husband was exactly like Dexter (he still drives me nuts and he doesn't care enough to tie his shoes sometimes). Maybe that's what made this book feel so real to me.

If you haven't already read this book, I highly suggest you do!

I've now broken into the world of Sarah Dessen, it took me about 8 years. I wish I had broken in sooner!


Favorite line:
"Can you all just please shut up" John Miller moaned from the couch, his voice muffled. "I'm trying to sleep."
"It's two in the afternoon, and this is the kitchen," Ted told him. "Go someplace else or quit bitching." - pg. 122


All around our hose were little piles of things that had once held her attention: aromatherapy kits, family tree software, stacks of Japanese cookbooks, an aquarium with four sides covered in algae and one sol survivor, a fat white fish who had eaten all the others. - pg. 7