Change of Plans by Sarah Dessen

The quick cut: A girl finds her plans for the future upended when her boyfriend suddenly breaks up with her and finds new direction in a trip with her distant mother. 

A real review: 

 Thank you to Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for providing the arc for an honest review.

 Our parents may be someone we've known all our lives, but that doesn't necessarily mean that we know them well. Before you were born, they had a whole life of their own. So how would you react if you had the opportunity to better know your parents and who they were? This is a chance that Finley has received.

 Finley prefers remaining out of the spotlight. It's what makes her magnetic boyfriend perfect: he attracts all the attention and she gets to come along with him for the activities, friendships, and plans. It's exactly what she likes... until he breaks up with her. Feeling broken-hearted and unsure what the future looks like, she goes with her distant mother to sell a family vacation house that she never even knew about. In a moment, she gets an insight to a life and family of aunts and cousins she's rarely seen previously. Will the new environment and insight change Finley's perspective? 

 I did enjoy reading this story, but it took a moment for it to really find its footing for me. A lot of what is happening to Finley is truly just happening to her because she has chosen to be an observer in her own life. I get it, that's easy to do when you're afraid to make a move. Life goes on without you though and a lot of what propels her forward in the plot. 

 Finley's parents have very different relationships with her. While her mom is very private and reclusive, her father has a closer relationship. It's one of the reasons that this book works: because she has one parent who sees her while there is another that chooses to keep her distance. When her mother is made to realize that she may not have more time to let her daughter get to know her, that stance changes. I don't want to spoil the reason why, but it is something out of their control that causes the change to occur. 

 One of the main reasons that Finley changes throughout the book is her new environment. She's used to staying in the background and the vacation house allows her a cozy place to come out of that shell. Rather than watch someone else live their life, Finley is now participating. She helps out at the Egg and finds a talent in helping in the restaurant's survival. She meets new people and finds an attraction with a guy named Ben. When given a clean slate, she finds a life of her own to live. Once you're living your own life, it's hard to go back to fading into the background. 

 A cute contemporary romance that takes time to find its footing with readers. 

My rating: 3.75 out of 5