The Rest Of The Story by Sarah Dessen

After losing her mum years ago to addiction and then death, Emma or Saylor as some know her, is learning how to move on and adapt as her dad remarries to her stepmum Tracy.

At North Lake she discovers her old self from her younger days as she learns about the past she had there growing up as a kid on holiday there with her grandma, mum and family including her aunt's and young cousin's.

She rediscovers her friendship with Roo, the son of her mum's best friend as well as getting to know her grandma, aunt and grown up now cousin's all over again. From, Trinity, Gordon and Bailey, she meets Colin and Brad who get her involved in dance and parties.

This book truly captures how life and people can change over love periods of time apart. The book had typical teen drama from dancing, drinking and ventures in love to discovering family and hidden secrets especially about her mum who died. Emma is a strong character who's conscious of her mum and how her life wound up after addiction and I liked that she was supposed to be aware of all that and had not been hidden away protected from it which is a positive. The story was good but I couldn't help but wish for a further drama to arise from the night danger in the story or with one of the new relatives she gets to know to add some more to the story however as I don't normally like books set at either camp or around lake's this one kept me entertained and the teen drama was fun.

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen

Sydney is a young girl in her brother's broken shadow, never in trouble but massively sheltered from life by her parents because of his actions she begins to rebel and just be herself unapologetically.

Peyton, Sydney's brother is sentenced for a drink driving accident after he originally started doing drugs and breaking and entering it spiralled until he was put into jail long term after disabling a young boy when he hit his bike.

Ames, Peyton's best friend from a narcotics anonymous group is left to look out for Sydney for Peyton only he's a very creepy guy and not just Sydney but Layla her new friend from the pizza parlour she goes to notices it as well.

Layla's brother, Mac, becomes close to Sydney and shares with her his past weight issues and his self belief in Saint's with a necklace he wears. He later passes on another one to Sydney to keep her hopeful of change to come for the better after moving from private school to Layla and Mac's school she feels like she fits in better and finds herself having masses of fun until her parents try to stop her going out to concerts.

Her mum is a very Peyton only focused character and misses all the good Sydney does meanwhile when Ames stays and he and Sydney are alone, things get tense as things come to ahead just what will Ames do...

A very good book, not my favourite Sarah Dessen but nevertheless a great read about teenage life and being in the shadow of a sibling.