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A review by katsbooks
Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen
challenging
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
“It's a lot easier to be lost than found. It's the reason we're always searching and rarely discovered--so many locks not enough keys.”
“What is family? They were the people who claimed you."
This novel followed Dessen's regular formula pretty well. I'm finding I like to read her books in between heavier books. For example, the two books I read before were both horrors and the one I'm reading now (after I've finished) is a thriller. It's a nice change of pace to cleanse my pallete.
Generally, I like how Dessen's novels have love interests but they are not the reason for the character's growth. In this novel, however, it was this underlying theme of "saving" another person and I didn't know how to feel about it. Jamie "saved" Cora and Ruby and Nate "save" each other at different times. I feel like the intention was to touch on the idea that we need other people and it's impossible to be truly independent. That idea resonates with me but I struggle with the idea of needing someone to "fix" your problems. I feel like that line was a little blurry in this novel, especially with Nate and Ruby's plot line.
I did like the conversation around the idea of family and what it really means. I think that's something Dessen does well. All of her books have a family element to them which just makes you feel things. The relationship between Ruby and her sister pulled at my heartstrings.
Trigger warnings for child abuse, addiction and child abandonment.
“What is family? They were the people who claimed you."
This novel followed Dessen's regular formula pretty well. I'm finding I like to read her books in between heavier books. For example, the two books I read before were both horrors and the one I'm reading now (after I've finished) is a thriller. It's a nice change of pace to cleanse my pallete.
Generally, I like how Dessen's novels have love interests but they are not the reason for the character's growth. In this novel, however, it was this underlying theme of "saving" another person and I didn't know how to feel about it. Jamie "saved" Cora and Ruby and Nate "save" each other at different times. I feel like the intention was to touch on the idea that we need other people and it's impossible to be truly independent. That idea resonates with me but I struggle with the idea of needing someone to "fix" your problems. I feel like that line was a little blurry in this novel, especially with Nate and Ruby's plot line.
I did like the conversation around the idea of family and what it really means. I think that's something Dessen does well. All of her books have a family element to them which just makes you feel things. The relationship between Ruby and her sister pulled at my heartstrings.
Trigger warnings for child abuse, addiction and child abandonment.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infertility, Physical abuse, Grief, and Abandonment