Review: Keeping the Moon

Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen 

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Description: Colie expects the worst when she’s sent to spend the summer with her eccentric aunt Mira while her mother, queen of the television infomercial, tours Europe. Always an outcast — first for being fat and then for being “easy” — Colie has no friends at home and doesn’t expect to find any in Colby, North Carolina. But then she lands a job at the Last Chance Cafe and meets fellow waitresses Morgan and Isabel, best friends with a loving yet volatile relationship. Wacky yet wise, Morgan and Isabel help Colie see herself in a new way and realize the potential that has been there all along.

Review: I haven't read a contemporary book in about a year. I haven't read a good, mind-blowing, makes-you-think contemporary book in as long as I can remember. Since I haven't kinda reviewed books in a while (nine days, but it felt like a month), I decided to pick up my copy of Keeping the Moon that I won from a contest last year and finally read it. And I think it changed my outlook on life. Or at least my current situation.

So Keeping the Moon tells the tale of Colie Sparks, who moves to North Carolina with her kooky aunt Mira, and lodger Norman. She walks into a whirlwind of chaos, drama, and fun. Because this summer will change Colie's entire life. She used to be fat, but her mother because this fitness guru, and helped women all over the world become thin, including Colie and herself. But Colie still keeps a fruitful distance from others, since she's been tormented and belittled for her weight. She has never had a friend, until this summer.

I can relate to Colie so much, it's actually really sad. I gained my first "friend" in 6th grade, and she wound of screwing me over, so I become friends with these other girls in the eighth grade, but we all went to different high schools. So I was alone my freshman year. But sophomore and junior year, I met the two people who changed my life. I can honestly say my life has changed for the better since Dani and Crystal walked into my life, and I am so grateful for them. I finally have a place to fit in, and since college is coming up, I just want to make everyday count.

Colie makes friends with Morgan and Isabel, two waitresses who teach her about friendship and men. They make Colie come out of her shell, and finally open up to people. And maybe even find love, on the beach.

This book is such a nice, warm-hearted story. This has nothing to do with the book, but it really opened my eyes to how little time we have, and how we have to stop being walking carpets and stand up for ourselves. That was a big sign to me, because seeing as this is my senior year, I want to live everyday. I'm not taking any day for granted. And as for the boy situation, I recently met someone. But I'm waiting, like an asshole, for him to make the first move. But I think I will. Because I'm not going to wait for anyone. I'm going to create my own future, like Colie.

The characters in this story were superb. Seriously. Everyone was so flawless and unique, I couldn't take it. Mira, with her head in the clouds, not caring attitude; Isabel, with her no nonsense, flat-out speech; Morgan, with her ever-trusting heart; and Norman, who turns out to be deeper than one thinks. 

I think my goal for the remainder of this year is to read as many Sarah Dessen books as possible. I love the good natured feeling they leave you with, and I just really want a nice romantic, sappy story.

Number of time I cried: 3
Number of times I smiled: Countless
Number of times I dropped the book because it was so cute: 2
Number of times I smiled while reading, and couldn't even get my words out: too many to count.

"Two months ago, when the train pulled into Colby, the thought that I would be who I was now seemed impossible. As impossible, in fact, as keeping the moon.”

-Keeping the Moon; Sarah Dessen