The Rest of the Story

By: Sarah Dessen

Narrated by: Rebecca Soler

Length: 12 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

From number-one New York Times best-selling author Sarah Dessen comes a big-hearted, sweeping novel about a girl who reconnects with a part of her family she hasn’t seen since she was a little girl - and falls in love, all over the course of a magical summer.

Emma Saylor doesn’t remember a lot about her mother, who died when Emma was 12. But she does remember the stories her mom told her about the big lake that went on forever, with cold, clear water and mossy trees at the edges.

Now, it’s just Emma and her dad, and life is good, if a little predictable...until Emma is unexpectedly sent to spend the summer with her mother’s family, whom she hasn’t seen since she was a little girl.

When Emma arrives at North Lake, she realizes there are actually two very different communities there. Her mother grew up in working-class North Lake, while her dad spent summers in the wealthier Lake North resort. The more time Emma spends there, the more it starts to feel like she is also divided into two people. To her father, she is Emma. But to her new family, she is Saylor, the name her mother always called her.

Then there’s Roo, the boy who was her very best friend when she was little. Roo holds the key to her family’s history, and slowly, he helps her put the pieces together about her past. It’s hard not to get caught up in the magic of North Lake - and Saylor finds herself falling under Roo’s spell as well.

For Saylor, it’s like a whole new world is opening up to her. But when it’s time to go back home, which side of her - Emma or Saylor - will win out?

©2019 Sarah Dessen (P)2019 HarperCollins Publishers

Good beach read

I would describe this one as a good beach read - simple plot, characters to root for and a neat, happy ending.

Slow burn romance!

this book was a really good listen! i love the narrator and have listened to other books she has voiced because she is able to give such life to these characters (and not in an obnoxious or annoying way).

the story was about family, self growth/discovery, with a slow burn romance. i found myself feeling so many emotions while listening to this book and i think that is really important in a good read. i highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a happy open-ended ending, but still has stressful moments throughout. the best of both worlds

I really like Sarah Dessen

This is another good book from Sarah Dessen. I have listened to most of her books. Each one is different and well written. Rebecca Soler is a great Narrator. I recommend this book! so worth a credit

Good story!

This was a very good book to listen to, although i do wish there was a sequel; as i feel like there’s a lot more that could happen or be said. The only thing I didn’t like was i felt like in the beginning this book wa kind of a slow start. Overall the meaning and the story was great, Sarah dessen always does a great job!

OMG so good!

I really liked all the characters and how the Sarah dessen used the driving metaphor! Would DEF recommend!

Great story

I absolutely loved this book and was sad when it was at the end because I wanted more

captivating

loved this story the narrator was excellent
wish I could find more stories like this

Cute classic Sarah Dessen

I am a big fan of sarah for the slow easy pace she develops that still manages to keep you interested. And even if her formula is tried and true, you end up staying for the mix of characters driving the story, and the connections they make and how integral they are to every story she writes.

Another Great Book By Sarah Dessen

I've been anticipating this book since I heard about it, everyone knows how much I love me some Sarah Dessen books ALL THE TIME ..
this story is a summer story yet it's so much deeper than that, I liked the atmosphere of The North Lake and Lake North, amazing setting, REALLY likable characters and character development, everything was just great about this book .. I wanted more romancy fluffy scenes through out the story but it's a nice summary read

Rebecca Soler is off the charts good I can't say anything short of AMAZING performance, she is my favorite narrator and this one was no different

Bound to be a Sarah Dessen classic

This story has all the components of a great YA summer novel and goes along with the formula for Dessen’s other novels, so fans are sure to enjoy it.

The story felt a little more “slice of life” than Dessen’s other novels, in terms of the characters’ dialogue and actions. But this wasn’t a bad thing, as it captured the lake-trip setting well. Listening to the story made me feel nostalgic, as if I was remembering the lake myself. The narrator was also perfect for this story and really captured the voice of the protagonist. Definitely recommend as an effortlessly engaging YA summer read!