Book Review: The Story of Us by Deb Caletti

Cricket's mom has a history of leaving her fiances at the airport just before she's about to marry them - but this time, it looks like it's really going to happen.  Dan Jax is a great guy, and Cricket and her older brother, Ben, are both rooting for them.  Both families are gathering for a pre-wedding week of fun and getting-to-know-you at an island bed & breakfast owned by Dan's college friend Ted and his wife, Rebecca - no airports in sight.  Cricket's big plan for the week is to keep her mom in love with Dan and away from airports, decide what to do about college and the looming future - and figure out what to do about what happened with Janssen.

Janssen, Cricket's other half.  Janssen, who saved her and Ben and their mom, literally riding up on a white horse when the divorce was still ugly.  Janssen, who knows her better than anyone else.  Janssen, who was her first everything - boyfriend, kiss, love.  Janssen, who she did something terrible to, and she still doesn't know what to do about it.

There's plenty going on at Bishop Rock to keep Cricket's mind off Janssen, though - Gram and Aunt Bailey, who are nothing but outrageous trouble when they get together.  Grandpa and George, his golfing buddy.  Hailey and Amy, Dan Jax's daughters from Vancouver who are not big fans of their dad's remarriage.  Gavin and Oscar, Cricket's geeky best friends camping down on the beach with a generator, a seriously awesome video game setup, and a year's supply of M&Ms.  Cruiser, Dan's big, young, uber-energized dog, and Jupiter, Cricket's sweet, loyal, old lady beagle.  And Ash, Ted's son, who is a seriously gorgeous guy that Cricket definately wants to know better, even if it makes things with Janssen even more confusing.

Told in chapters alternating between the crazy drama and fun of the week before the wedding and Cricket's letters to Janssen remembering everything that brought them and their families together, this is a great story of how tangled up in each others' lives we become.  Family, friends, the Pacific Ocean, grandmas on mopeds, mini-golf, sailing, some serious chocolate overdosing, and the world's sweetest dog (seriously, Jupiter is one awesome lady!) all come together for this fabulous vacation of a book.  If you love Sarah Dessen's books and aren't already a fan of Deb Caletti, be sure to put her books in your beach tote this summer!