Seven years…it’s been SEVEN YEARS. But Dessen comes back and blows us away. This is classic Dessen, but somehow fresh and present. Honestly, I shouldn’t have expected less. Her books are YA, yes, but they’re that part of young adulthood that we all remember, that even if you’re just now discovering her books feels relevant and universal–her characters struggle with time, with the constant ebb and flow of it, with the random intervals it feels like the dam broke or got clogged. Finley is on the cusp of college and she thought she had her next four years planned. But change is inevitable, and soon everything she knew–about her mother, her boyfriend, herself–is reprogramed. Dessen traverses the unexpected so beautifully. Her characters are always–and I mean ALWAYS–so realistic. Her stories are often driven by dialogue, because she’s a master at it, but it’s the subtle but impactful sentences she seamlessly weaves into a seemingly normal paragraph that grips you, that reminds you why her books feel so timeless. Everyone can relate to the themes and situations. If you can’t tell, I’m so glad we get her back on the page.
Change of Plans by Sarah Dessen, (List Price: $21.99, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 9798347108770, 2026-05-05)
Reviewed by Tamara, M. Judson Booksellers in Greenville, South Carolina