It’s no secret that I am a total Sarah Dessen fangirl. I just adore her books. I read them again and again and again. Actually, I’m in the middle of a re-read now! One of my favorite things about her stories is how they connect. Characters and places from from her earlier books show up in later stories. It’s always so fun to see a familiar face/place when reading Sarah’s newest books.
I’ve posted about this twice previously (here in 2011 and here in 2015.) These are the top most viewed posts on my blog (aside from my landing page which I don’t count as a post.)
Also, look at the top search terms for my blog:
The list of search terms that bring people to my blog has that many Sarah Dessen references all the way to the end. SO MANY of you are also in love with the connections/Easter Eggs Sarah puts in her books!
As I’m in my third or fourth time re-reading the series (in order) I’ve found even more connections that I missed! I’m in the process of creating an updated post and hope to have it done soon (I’m considering adding “foremost scholar on Sarah Dessen connections (self proclaimed)” to my bio!) In the mean time, I’m wrapping up the blog tour with a post about the connections I found in my first read through of Once and For All. Some of them are a little vague because I wanted to avoid spoilers!
Connections to other Dessen Books:
Click on the graphic to open full screen for easier reading! The connections go with the book they’re closest to.
I’m sure I’ve missed some! Did you find any I left out? Let me know in the comments!
About the Book:
Louna has spent her high school years working at her mother’s successful wedding planning business. She’s seen every sort of wedding: big and lavish, small and intimate, at country clubs or on the beach. She’s dealt with every crisis that can bedevil a wedding—as well as scene-stealing bridesmaids, controlling grooms, bossy mothers-of-the-bride, and even the occasional AWOL bride. Her view of the non-everlasting nature of love has been colored by the cynicism of her mother, who enjoys laying odds on how long each marriage will last. And Louna’s own experience has made her wary: her blissful first love, seen in intermittent flashbacks, ended in tragic loss.
When handsome, charming, scatterbrained Ambrose comes to work for her mother, Louna is indignant at the number of women he juggles; he is appalled by her refusal to socialize at all. They make a bet: Louna will go on a series of dates while Ambrose will attempt a long-term relationship with one woman. But in the end, it is Ambrose himself that Louna falls for—exactly what Ambrose intended!
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About the Author:
Sarah Dessen is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of over a dozen novels for teens, which have received numerous awards and rave reviews, and have sold millions of copies worldwide. She is the recipient of the 2017 Margaret A. Edwards Award from the American Library Association. Sarah lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, with her husband, Jay, and their daughter, Sasha Clementine. Visit her online at sarahdessen.com.
Christina
I love when books connect like this! Can’t wait to check out all the connections
Maddy
I was wondering if Elinor(the bride from Once and for All) was connected to Elinor from Just Listen (Owen’s sister’s friend)
Autumn
I love that your putting all this effort into making a crossover guide, I know I’ll use it repeatedly!
Caryn
Jilly mentions that Brilliant or Catastrophic (Mac’s Band) is playing when she wants to go out in the beginning of the book.
Naina
I love this thanks for making it!! Been looking everywhere for one of these.
Lucy
At the party after Louna’s graduation, she and Ambrose run into a girl named Grace, who is described as having red hair and freckles, like Scarlett from Someone Like You, who named her daughter Grace. Since someone like you cam out in 1998, it would make sense that her daughter would be old enough to graduate high school.