Eliza, Beth, Lizbet. A new name, a new girl, a fresh start for each new town - popular cheerleader, drama geek, super-involved student council member, joiner and organizer. Ever since her parents' very messy, very public, divorce (her mom had an affair with the coach of her dad's favorite college basketball team - and then married him), Mclean just wants to leave the past behind, so she's doing just that. Fairview is the fourth town she and her dad have moved to in the two years since the divorce. A chef, his job is to take over failing restaurants and make them successful again. When he's done, they move on - new restaurant, new town, new school, new friends, all-new Mclean. It's perfect - she never has to get too attached, never has to care about anyone enough to even want to say goodbye.But Fairview is different. There's Opal, Luna Blu's eclectic, funky manager/waitress/staunchest supporter, who's fighting Mclean's dad on pretty much everything - especially the rosemary rolls vs. fried pickles issue. Deb, enthusiastic type-A uber-organizer, acronym creator, and founding and only member of the Jackson High student hospitality committe. Heather and Riley, BFFs who suffer from constant drama with dirtbag boyfriends, and who Mclean meets at a party next door on her first night in Fairview. And then there's Dave. Brilliant, funny, totally gorgeous overachiever who just wantes to experience normal, suffering from a case of seriously overprotective parenting boy next door Dave is the first person Mclean feels like she can just be herself with - someone she hasn't felt like being in a long, long time.
Mclean's not too sure if she wants to be herself, though. Being herself means getting attached, and getting attached means getting hurt. When you're not sure if you're staying or going, getting attached just isn't a good idea - saying goodbye is just too hard. But when she's with Deb, Heather and Riley, and especially Dave, Mclean is surprised to find that maybe she does want to care about these people - and just maybe let them care about her.
I loved this book so much I wanted to hug it. And Mclean - that is one girl who is in serious need of a hug. I don't think I can articulate the true love I felt for this one, so I'm not even going to try - I'm just going to say that What Happened to Goodbye was freaking fabulosity. So - read this book, you guys! It was amazing! Take it to the beach, the park, or your front porch, get comfortable and make sure you have food supplies, because you are not going to be too interested in anything else once you crack it. It was just... sososo good!
Megan
(who's got Beauty Queens by Libba Bray and Entwined by Heather Dixon lined up for the weekend!)