Just Listen

I'll admit The Truth About Forever was the first Sarah Dessen book I ever read, but Just Listen was the book that made me want to read the others.

I borrowed Just Listen from my friend knowing I had one week to finish it. At first I thought I would never finish it, there were just too many excuses to find: I had school work, chores, sleep, dance practice, etc. But, that night I picked it up and that was a mistake.

Sometimes you find those books that are worth missing sleep over. You know, the kind where you read two pages and YOU KNOW you'll be spending the night with your book. I finished that book around two or three am, and then told my friend I wasn't done the next day, and reread it.

Just Listen will always remain one of my favorites. I don't want to give anything away, because that's how I went into it, and I think that's why I enjoyed it so much. I didn't have a clue what was going to happen, because I didn't even read the back. I just read it.

I highly recommend this to Sarah Dessen fans, or just anybody who wants to read a good book that will have you remembering it years later. Be warned, though, you will cry and laugh at random moments, so maybe don't read it in too public places.

Reader reviewed by Sarima89

amazing book. faveorite book ever.

Reader reviewed by safia

At first glance you may take Annabel as the perfect girl--pretty, good grades, a loving family, and even a modeling career. When you see the ads and commercials she's been in, it seems like she's a girl who has everything.

But if you get to know Annabel better, you'll find that she's currently an outcast at school, is struggling to deal with her sister's eating disorder, has wrecked friendships with two of her closest friends, and dislikes her modeling career so much that she wants to quit but can't seem to break the news to her fragile mother.

This is an exquisite novel from Sarah Dessen, my favorite author. It is excellently written and will be sure to capture readers.

Reader reviewed by Katie P

The book Just Listen by Sarah Dessen is amazing. When I first heard about it I was just starting to read some of her books. I had read Dreamland which was another truly exceptional book by her. When I decided to read this book I had high expectations and it did not let me down. The way its starts out immediately makes you wonder about what Annabels terrible secret is and how shes going to deal with it when she returns to school. Everything is so life like in this book. The characters are honest and have faults. Like Owen Armstrong, Owen is a reformed bad boy who relies on telling the truth to keep him out of trouble and away from fighting. He always seems so mysterious and is totally obsessed with music. The main character Annabel is another example; shes just your basic teenage girl. She starts out a shy teenage girl who on the outside appears to the world as perfect in everyway. But underneath her beautiful exterior hides layers of family trouble, betrayal, and secrets, which can be easy for many teenage girls can relate to. Also, for this is a great book for anyone out there who loves music. Music is a key part of the plot and references to a lot of older rock songs. The fast pace of the book constantly keeps you interested and begging to know what happens next. I read the entire book in one day it was so amazing. Over all this book is just a great read, its funny, life like, and easy to understand. So if youre looking for a good weekend read pick up Just Listen and you wont be disappointed.

Reader reviewed by Natalie

This book like all of Sarah Dessen's other books deals with a girl's struggle with her inner problems.

You have Annabel who from the outside looks happy with no problems but what people dont see is that from the inside she is a wreck. she just lost her best friend over a misunderstanding, her sister has an eating disorder that's causing tension in her family and she wants to quit modeling but can't find a way to break it to her mother.

Then she meets Owen, a guy who has anger management problems and could care less about what people think about him.

Through music, which happens to be Ownen's favorite subject, Owen teaches her how to speak her mind and let all of her problems out instead of keeping them all bottled up inside even if the truth is brutally honest.

All Annabel needs is to talk to someone and someone to JUST LISTEN to her.

Reader reviewed by Kelsey

After being seen with her best friend's, Sophie, boyfriend things go down the drain for Annabell. She spends her Junior year in a mist of lonesomeness, until she meets Owen, who teaches her the real meaning of things and befriends her. In this love and romance book, you yourself can learn the real meaning of things. I loved this book and you will too! Recommended for 8th and up.

Reader reviewed by lia

I;ve read this book like 20 times and i do not get tired of it. this book is about Annabel who Last year, was "the girl who has everything"at least that's the part she played in the television commercial for Kopf's Department Store.This year, she's the girl who has nothing: no best friend because mean-but-exciting Sophie dropped her, no peace at home since her older sister became anorexic, and no one to sit with at lunch. Until she meets Owen Armstrong. Tall, dark, and music-obsessed, Owen is a reformed bad boy with a commitment to truth-telling. With Owen's help,maybe Annabel can face what happened the night she and Sophie stopped being friends.

The best book of Sarah Dessens books!

Reader reviewed by rachpaige11

Let me just say that I absoultly loved this book!Music and reading are my obsessions and Sarah Dessen did a divine job of combining the two.

Annabel is a social leper after her best friend catches her in a comprimising situation with her boyfriend. Annabel is all alone. Her mother crams modeling down her throat and her anorxic sister won't talk to anyone. Then Annabel meets Owen Armstrong another loner with an addiction to music. They start to like one another, then something from that night with her ex-best friend's boyfriend comes back to haunt her. she keeps quite and avoids everyone, even Owen. Then she finally opens up and tells her story.

This book was great. I wish I could find a boy like Owen, but of course the best boys are fictionous! Just kidding. Read the book! It's great!

Reader reviewed by Anna

There are only some books out there that can keep me reading long into the night. Just Listen was definitely one of those books. After reading the first couple of chapters, i could not put the book down. I took it EVERYWHERE I went. It is a very captivating book, and it makes you feel like you are in Annabel Green's shoes. I guarantee if you like those teen love stories, which I LOVE, this is the perfect book for you.