This Lullaby

Reader reviewed by Jocelyn

Sarah Dessen's This Lullaby is one of the best teen books I've ever read. It's the story of Remy, a girl who has no faith in love. Part of this is because her own father never even saw her, only wrote a now-famous song, called "This Lullaby," about her before he died. It certainly doesn't help that her mother has been married four times, and, at the beginning of the novel, is about to have her fifth wedding. Remy says about her mother's marriages, "She 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 likes to feel in control of things when she's got a boyfriend. She knows all about getting into relationships, the first romantic rush, and ending them before there's any emotional attachment. She's almost always the one to dump guys, not the other way around. She's got plenty of pratice at it, too.

One day, at the car dealership owned by her mother's next husband, she meets a guy named Dexter. He's very determined to get to know Remy, and, at first, she thinks he's ridiculous and ignores him. Dexter, however, is persistent. When the two finally get together, everyone is shocked that Remy's staying in the relationship. Dexter is so many things Remy could never put up with. He's messy and impulsive, but, most of all, he's a musician. Until Dexter came along, Remy and a no musician rule, and now she's broken it.

Signs point to Remy ending this relationship and not looking back. Everyone thinks that's what will happen. Everyone except Dexter, who wants it to be more than a summer thing, who has faith in their relationship. How will it all end?

This is an amazing YA book by a brilliant author. Sarah Dessen, author of several other books including That Summer and Someone Like You, does an awesome job of keeping the reader's attention throughout This Lullaby. She does it with her original story, told in Remy's unique voice. It doesn't hurt that Sarah Dessen is great at creating fresh, original, believable characters. Thoughtful and powerful, this book also has its moments that will make readers laugh, which is a nice change of pace in the story. Every aspect of this novel surpasses any expectations of YA books or books in general that any reader might have.

Reader reviewed by mh

This lullaby is about a girl who doesn't believe in love because her mother has been married many times and it all ended in divorce. She thinks that love always ends up burning you and that there is no such thing as a happy ending. The writing style of Sarah Dessen is really good and fresh and not like other writers. It's a book that you just can't put down and really gets to you. I think that all of her books are that way and I love to read them. This is also a must-read.

Reader reviewed by Ashley

this book starts with a only girl named Rezzmey. She was simply sitting in a car dealer waiting for her futer step-father to come out of a meeting, when all of a sudden, BOOM, she is bumped into a wall by someone who she instantly becomes annoyed with. as the story goes on an amazing love blossoms between the two. this is a great romance and a hillarious comedy. i would recomend this book to anyone who is sinterested in any romance whatsoever

Reader reviewed by Brandi

This is my favorite book out of all the books written by Sarah Dessen, Remy this badgirl an non-believer in love was raised my her mother and ex-husbands, when dexter the extact oppsite of everything she wants in a guy trip into her life, little did she know she cant just throw him out.

Reader reviewed by Lisa

I loved this book. This is a one-of-a-kind love story, not sappy or anything. The characters Dessen crafts are the kind you learn to love from Remy, the strong girl who doesn't open up to Dexter, the boy who's the opposite. While reading it, it's almost impossible to put it down. The characters are the kind you can relate to, the ones you could see as being your best friends. I love every one of Sarah Dessen's book, but this is by far the best one I've ever read. No matter how many times you read it, it never gets old. Whether you're watching Remy change over time or hoping that Dexter and Remy do end up together, the book is just incredible. It's my favorite.

Reader reviewed by Leah



I stumbled across this book at my school library and it looked like a good read, but i was so wrong, it was an awesome read. Remy is a girl afraid of love and comitment, mostly because she doesnt' want to end up like her mother, a five time divorcee and a crazed writer. Her mother is about to get married again when she meets Dexter, a corky fun guy that turns out to be the most loving, awesome boyfriend she's ever had. But she decides to break up with him because things are getting too serious. This book is really great because you can really relate to the characters.

Reader reviewed by safia

Remy, who is 18 and ready to go to college, has a rule about relationships. Ditch them when it gets ready to be serious and involving long term commitment. She's seen her mother, on her fifth marriage, failing at love. And her father, who she's never met, has a song 'This Lullaby' saying that he knows he has let her down. So Remy is a skeptic about love. She skips from guy to guy never stopping to love or have a boyfriend for long. Until Dexter.

He's not like any other guy she's dated. He breaks all of her rules and manages into Remy's heart. He's also in a band...

Sarah Dessen is a great author. After loving her other books, i had really high expectations for 'This Lullaby'. And i say it wasn't as good as her other books. The beginning didn't really captivate my attention, though i gradually began to love the characters and fall into Dessen's mesmerizing trance.

A tough girl, a hot guy in a band, and a few heartbreaking scenes. A good novel to read and several lessons on love to be learned.

Reader reviewed by Alexandra

This Lullaby is about eighteen-year-old Remy, who's a romance cynic. Well, wouldn't you be if your mother was on her fifth husband? Remy has a pattern and a schedule with each of her boyfriends: when to go out, when to kiss, when to break up. Then she meets Dexter, who challenges that pattern. Frightened of being attached, Remy ends it. But when she's trying to get back into her regular rhythm, she falters, and decides that maybe love isn't something to be scared of. Sarah Dessen is an excellent author, with believeable heroines, and this book is no exception.

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.

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.