But I just didn't feel much concern for Sydney or Peyton. Perhaps it will appeal more to readers who genuinely enjoy quiet stories about everyday people. Saint Anything needs a good shot of drama, angst, tragedy or something in order to be more than an exercise in good character writing. Very few authors manage this to the extent that Dessen does.īut where is the hook? Where is the drive to keep turning pages to find out what will happen to Sydney? To Peyton? To Mac and Layla? It's so so tame. Every character is complex and developed, complete with likes, dislikes, aspirations, hopes and quirks that make them uniquely themselves. The narrative flows smoothly and the everyday dialogue feels realistic - she captures the 'voice' of teenage girls very well. I'm rating up on this one because it's hard to deny that Dessen is a competent writer. But I finally decided to cast aside my reservations and try this - a great writer can make any story interesting, right? Saint Anything is my first Sarah Dessen book, which may have been a mistake, but all I know is that this book is a perfect example of how to write great, natural dialogue, fleshed-out characters and relationships, and never once make me feel a single emotion.ĭespite reading praise after praise about Sarah Dessen, I admit I've avoided her work because her stories just do not sound very compelling. Saint Anything is Sarah Dessen’s deepest and most psychologically probing novel yet, telling an engrossing story of a girl discovering friendship, love, and herself.Ģ 1/2 stars.

But it’s with older brother Mac-quiet, watchful, and protective-that Sydney finally feels seen, really seen, at last. Chatham, who even though ailing is the heart of the family. There’s effervescent Layla, who constantly falls for the wrong guy, Rosie, who’s had her own fall from grace, and Mrs. Drawn into their warm, chaotic circle, Sydney experiences unquestioning acceptance for the first time. Now, after a drunk-driving accident that crippled a boy, Peyton’s serving some serious jail time, and Sydney is on her own, questioning her place in the family and the world. Peyton is handsome and charismatic, but seems bent on self-destruction. She's grown accustomed to her brother, Peyton, being the focus of the family’s attention and, lately, concern. ' Saint Anything is a poignant, honest story about how we might suffer the misfortune of someone else's bad choices, how people who love us can become family when we desperately need it, and how starting over might - miraculously - mean taking a solid leap forward.' - Jodi Picoult, New York Times bestselling novelist of Leaving Time and My Sister’s Keeper A TIME Magazine Top 10 Children's Book of 2015

Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen