Just Listen Book Review

Annabel Greene is a girl who has it all- at least, that's how it seems on TV commercials. Annabel's life is far from perfect. Though some thought that Annabel had everything people often forgot that what she wanted most was to live a normal life. Her friendship with cruel, dramatic Sophie ended on a night she can't bear to remember; her sister Whitney moves back home because of her eating disorder, making her moody and distant, she wants to quit modeling, but can't bear to tell her mom, and she is now an outsider at her school. Then, she meets Owen Armstrong, a boy who has anger management problems and is obsessed with music. He always tells the truth no matter what, and Annabel starts developing a close bond with him, even though they are nothing alike. With his help, Annabel may start facing her fears - and more importantly, speaking the truth. This story has a strong moral message and changes all the characters in some way. In the end, Annabel finds her own pathway and begins a new life.

Just listen, which is Sarah Dessen's seventh book, was the second book of hers that I read and I must say that it is one of my favorite books ever! More importantly, it is one of my top five books by her and I've almost read all of them. You just have to trust me with the fact that it is one of those life changing books that really get you thinking. 

In this book, there were some parts that were predictable, but even then I was on the edge of my seat the whole two days I spent reading it. This is why I give props to Dessen for knowing how to bring this world to life and that goes for every one of her books. In Just Listen, we see many details and characters that are familiar from her other books and that is something I simply adore. You can learn more about this here. 

This is one of my favorite books because nothing is as it seems. It is the time when a teenager could see themselves in a hole that they can't get out. They don't know who to run to, but you learn that sometimes help is in the unlikely and although it isn't easy we just need someone to listen when we do decide to speak up. This is where your none typical guy Owen comes to play in Annabel Greene's life. Yet, we also need to learn to listen to what our hearts are saying. This is the only way to know ourselves. 

Another of the aspects I like about this book is how music could bring two unlikely people together. How it can make them grow stronger. How it could become their life jacket during hard times. This book brings real aspects like eating disorders, misunderstandings, fights with friends, loneliness, and anger management to the table. It also describes the feeling where some days we just don't know where we belong anymore perfectly.

This is the type of book that talks about broken hearts, and lost dreams, about loneliness, and silent cries, about being too late and second chances. Most importantly it talks about love in every form we can find it. This is the perfect book for all those people we need to do one thing: just listen.

The best part about this book has to be the fact that it isn't just relatable if you are a lost teenager. The feeling of being lost and not knowing what to do with your life comes at any age, and it is in those dark times where we ask ourselves too many questions and keep in too many secrets that could change the feelings of those around us that we need someone to just listen. No matter what we are going through in your life, no matter the age we will always need that someone. We will always need to learn to listen to what our heart is telling us. 

And that is the beauty of this book, it deals with real life problems and how we truly process them and deal with them in real life. The way relationships and friendships come together and fall apart in this book feels like the real thing. It is relatable and not just about your typical teenage drama or your boy meets girl and they fell in love plot. 

It will be a book you will read by yourself over and over and share it with your friends. So please join me and read this book if you haven't already. Embark on this wonderful story and understand why it is one of my favorite books. You won't be disappointed, my friends. It's amazing!

Also, don't feel shy about reading more of her work, and follow Dessen on her twitter account! She's all around a great human being to have on your feed. I'll write to you all soon. 

Love, Nashi