What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen Review: Finding Yourself After Change

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary Fiction, Romance
Author: Sarah Dessen
Perfect for: Readers who enjoy coming-of-age stories, realistic teenage characters, friendship, family drama, and stories about identity and starting over.

Synopsis (Spoiler-Free)

After two years, four towns, and four schools, McLean Sweet has become something of an expert at starting over. Ever since her parents' messy divorce, she has been travelling with her father, Gus, who works in the restaurant business. Each time they move, McLean creates a new identity for herself, complete with a different name and personality. It's her way of leaving the past behind and keeping people at a distance.

When they arrive in Lakeview, McLean plans to follow the same routine. But things don't go quite as expected. For the first time, she finds herself making genuine friends and building connections that don't fit neatly into the identity she's created for herself.

As McLean begins to discover who she really is beneath all those different versions of herself, she must confront her complicated family history and figure out what it means to belong somewhere.

My Thoughts

What I liked about What Happened to Goodbye is how Sarah Dessen portrays the emotional struggles of a teenager trying to cope with a life that has changed in ways she never asked for.

McLean's parents' messy divorce and the scandal surrounding it form the backdrop of the story. But this isn't simply a novel about a broken family. It's about a girl trying to figure out who she is when the life she once knew has fallen apart.

I found McLean's habit of changing her name and personality particularly interesting. Every time she moves to a new town, she gets an opportunity to reinvent herself. It's almost as though she believes that if she can become someone different, she can leave behind the anger, frustration, and emotional baggage of her previous life.

The author does a lovely job of portraying these feelings without making McLean's behaviour seem entirely unreasonable. You may not agree with all her choices, but you can understand where she's coming from. Sometimes, when life feels beyond your control, creating a version of yourself that you can control seems like the easiest way to cope.

Then there are the supporting characters, and I couldn't help falling in love with them!

Dave is a geek with an exceptionally high IQ who is trying to figure out how to be a 'normal' teenager. He's intelligent, understanding, and fun, and I found his character genuinely endearing. Riley is a good friend to both Dave and McLean, providing a sense of stability as their relationships develop.

And then there's Deb, who brings another interesting dimension to the story. Through her character, we see how easily people can be labelled as different simply because they don't fit conventional expectations. The novel reminds us that being different doesn't mean there's something wrong with you. Sometimes, all a person needs is a little understanding and the opportunity to find their place.

One thing I particularly appreciated was how the characters developed throughout the book. With every chapter, Sarah Dessen reveals a little more about their lives, personalities, and motivations. The characters gradually become more layered, and their relationships feel increasingly genuine as the story progresses.

Although my life has been quite different from McLean's, thankfully without a divorce or custody battle, I could still identify with many aspects of her experience. The uncertainty, the struggle to understand yourself, and the desire to figure out where you belong aren't exclusive to people dealing with complicated family situations. They're part of growing up, and I think that's what makes McLean's story relatable.

What Didn't Quite Work for Me

While I enjoyed the character development and the emotional aspects of the story, I would have liked to explore some of the characters' experiences in greater depth.

That said, the strength of the novel lies in its focus on the small, everyday moments through which people gradually reveal themselves. It doesn't need dramatic revelations at every turn to keep the reader interested.

What Works Well

A believable portrayal of teenage anger, frustration, and confusion.
An interesting exploration of identity and the desire to reinvent oneself.
Likeable supporting characters who add warmth and depth to the story.
Natural character development that unfolds gradually.
Relatable themes of friendship, belonging, and family relationships.

Who Should Read This?

I'd recommend What Happened to Goodbye to readers who enjoy young adult contemporary fiction and coming-of-age stories. If you like novels that explore teenage relationships, complicated family dynamics, and the process of figuring out who you are, this is worth picking up.
It's also a good choice if you enjoy character-driven stories where the emotional journey matters more than dramatic plot twists.

Final Verdict

What Happened to Goodbye is a thoughtful coming-of-age novel about identity, friendship, and learning to move forward when life doesn't turn out as expected.

What I enjoyed most was McLean's gradual journey towards understanding herself. Her habit of reinventing her personality might seem unusual, but beneath it lies a very human desire to escape difficult experiences and find a place where she feels she belongs.

Sarah Dessen brings together a lovely cast of characters and allows their relationships to develop naturally. Although McLean's circumstances are very different from my own, I could still relate to many of the emotions she experiences.

It's a warm, engaging read that reminds us that sometimes finding yourself means letting go of the person you've been pretending to be.