This Lullaby

This is my third Dessen book and it's the most relatable, so far.

It's a story about Remy, a girl who doesn't believe in love because she witnessed her mother getting divorced way too many times. Mum is planing to marry for the fifth time and Remy's had enough but she's still going to keep her mouth shut cause she's leaving for college in the fall. Dexter literally collides with Remy and he is ready to fight for her even though they just met. Soon they start casually dating but Remy knows there is no future for them.

Remy is one cool chick. She's 'the mother' of her family. Since she's a neat freak, she cleans the house, organizes her mother's every wedding and she even has a steady job junior year. Even though she doesn't believe in love she still hooks up with a lot of guys. She doesn't want a relationship. This all changes when she meets Remy who's clumsy, irresponsible, jokester and a musician. He has so many faults which would usually make Remy have 'the talk' with a guy but something is different with Dexter.

I did like Remy but I didn't like Dexter that much and that's the only bad thing I can say about this book. Dexter just wasn't unique enough for my taste. He was just like any other fictional boy. I was really surprised Dessen didn't do something more but with his character then again, maybe she wanted him to be more realistic, without too many embellishments.

Other than that, I would recommend reading this book to those who're for a perfect summer novel.

Reader reviewed by Amanda

I love this book! It is very interesting! This Lullaby is a story about a woman between high school and college. She is in a wild and crazy group of girlfriends including Chloe and Lissa. Their schedule usually consists of clubbing, partying, and drinking at The Spot. They aren't any different from other girls that age. All of them date, but Remy Starr, the main character, gets rid of the guys. She dumps them quickly. That is very close to her mother, by the way...


Remy's mother is a romance novelist and has been married numerous times. Remy must plan the current wedding to Don Davis of the motor facility. Of course she has all the information from the other weddings, but must check in with Don periodically for a budget. On one of her visit, as she departs, she meets a clumsy guy named Dexter. He is pretty forward, but Remy tries to kill him off with her inner "bad-girl." She really doesn't know what is coming.


At the club, Bendo, that night, the girls meet up for some fun. Dexter is in the band that is playing at the moment and meanders over to Remy eventually. Somehow, with all her dislike towards him and chance, they become a couple. His house is a mess, she helps the band out, she cleans his dog, invites him to a barbeque, and plenty more. But soon, something happens to Remy and Dexter and they split up. Will they be able to get back together again? Think about this: Will Ms. Starr stay with Don? Will the band go beyond Bendo? This Lullaby will explain everything.


This Lullaby is a realistic novel about teen life and love. Many teen girls will enjoy it. I did. I loved how Remy denied her feelings towards Dexter and the crazy band home. If you liked this book, you should watch How to Deal on the big screen which is based upon the other Sarah Dessen books, That Summer and Someone Like You.

Reader reviewed by Courtney

I loved this book. It is my favorite sarah Dessen book. What I loved about it was there is a great lesson in it. I am sure that when you read the back you are probably expecting the same thing but her work.as in all of her books she writing is so good, she is such a good author and my favorite. Her specality is to bring her characters alive like Remy (main character) is my best friend and that she is talking to me, and that is what I loved.



THIS LULLABY is the story of a girl who has grown up with a mother who takes on husbands "the way other people change their hair color: out of boredom, listlessness, or just feeling that this next one will fix everything, once and for all." Remy never knew her own father even, and all she has of him is the song, "This Lullaby," that he wrote one the road the day of her birth.

By the time she graduates from high school Remy has developed a careful schedual for all relationships she enters in to, and never allows any boy to get close to her heart, convinced that it is better to keep all guys at arms length so that they are unable to hurt her. Then, while planning her mother's fifth wedding, Remy meets Dexter, a boy who has so many qualities she dislikes. Though at first reluctant, Remy is eventually charmed by Dexter, who's shoelaces are always untied, and who insists on challenging people to do things such as eat ten bananas, or name more states than him before a specific lady is through picking up her dry-cleaning. Remy still believes that love is foolish, but Dexter helps her to learn otherwise.

As I said, the plot sounds quite cliche. However, it's a lot more complicated than all that, the writing is superb, the dialouge is at times very witty and entertaining, and this is an all around enjoyable book. I was completely engrossed, and reluctant to put it down even when I was in desperate need of something to eat. Towards the end I felt as though I couldn't read fast enough, and I felt a kind of ache in my chest because I was so drawn into the story. Definitely one of the best books I've read in the past year.

Recommended for readers ages 13+, mainly because some of the language may be inappropriate for those who are younger and more innocent. --

Reader reviewed by sweet dreams

The story about Remy, a girl who doesn't belive in true love because of her mother's constant marriages (currently on her 5th) and divorces,has a bad reputation with relationships and guys,is about to give up on love until she meets Dexter, a guy who makes her see what she never knew was there, hidden deep inside her.This is deffinatley my all time favorite by Sarah Dessen,one of my favorite authors for life.She deffinatley knows what a girl can feel like at times.

Reader reviewed by Ams

THe book This Lullaby is about a young girl named Remy who just graduated from High School. Her mother is about to marry her fifth husband, and Remy has just about given up on love. Dexter, a boy that Remy meets at her step-fathers work seems like a very annoying boy to Remy, who is the exact opposite of Remy, but she learns to grow on him as she gets to know him and his band. I enjoyed the feelings that where expressed, especially when Remy finds out a secret about her mom's new husband.

Reader reviewed by t2 sided freek

Many would say Remy is cold hearted, but I think differently. Remy doesn't believe in love patially because of her mother's marriage count (on her 5th) and also because of her father's abandonement. She is a compulsive dater, breaking off boyfriends before it comes to the stage where she gets too attached and might get hurt. So it's surprising to Remy, but not to the readers, when Dexter, a klutzy, cute, band boy, bumps into her life. Dexter is everything Remy despises, unorganized with the complete package. So why is Remy actually considering hooking up with him and moreover not applying her rules to him. Will he send her running, or will Remy finally discover that the love that is imprinted in those songs and romance novels her mom writes truly does exist?

Sarah Dessen writes with passion and writes what teens truly feel, not depending on the readers certain reaction to her books but depending on the readers reaction overall. She doesn't write what we want, which is true happiness, but writes what we will feel in the situations Remy gets sruck in.

Reader reviewed by Brooke

Remy is an 18-year old who doesn't believe in true love. Her mother has been remarried so many times that Remy only believes in short term relationships. This is until she meets Dexter who is determined to turn her views on love around. Dexter breaks all of her rules; 1.no dating musicians (he's in a rock band) 2.absolutly no eating in her car, etc... I love this book so much. I would recomend it to anyone who likes love stories.

Reader reviewed by BoogerCoatBrady

Remy doesn't believe in true love. She only believes in short term relationships, because her mother has been remarried so many times. She then meets Dexter who turns her veiws of love around, by breaking all her rules.

I loved this book!!! Sarah Dessen is the most amazing writer, and she writes about things that really matter to teen girls.

Reader reviewed by garden0fdreams

Just like all Sarah Dessen books, (my personal favorite author), she writes about life from a realistic point of view from young girls. She makes it the story come to life as if you were the character, and makes you understand all the surroundings.

Reader reviewed by Sarah

This Lullaby is about a girl named Remy who knows just when to break up with a boy. She is the master of relationships, and she has the upper hand. There is just one summer left before Remy leaves for college, and she doesn't want to leave any loose strings. She wants to have a fresh start at college, where nobody will know her. Remy's plans are all made. She's just gonna have some fun with some temporary summer boyfriends then leave without worries to college. But Remy's reputation of having the upper hand in a relationship is thrown out of whack when she meets Dexter. Dexter doesn't fit any of the criteria on her list of the ideal boy. Influenced by her mom's many marriages, Remy doesn't believe in love. Lust maybe, but not love. That's why Remy is always in control. But with Dexter, it's different. She doesn't know why she was willing to break the rules for him. One of her friends tell her it's love, but Remy doesn't know if she's willing to take the chance. She's too afraid of being hurt.

I thought this book was really good. Remy is a girl who has strict rules about guys. She knows exactly when it's time to break it off. It was good to see her break her rules for Dexter to find out that she did it because she loved him.