Saint Anything

Sydney Stanford lives in the shadow of her charismatic older brother Peyton, even after his reckless behavior leads to serious legal trouble. When Sydney transfers to a new high school, she meets the warm and welcoming Chatham family, who run a local pizza parlor. The Chathams provide Sydney with friendship and acceptance during a difficult time, particularly through her growing connection with their daughter Layla and their son Mac. As Sydney spends more time with the Chathams, she begins to discover her own identity separate from her family's struggles. While navigating complex family dynamics and new relationships, Sydney must confront uncomfortable truths about loyalty, responsibility, and finding her voice. The story explores themes of redemption, self-discovery, and the power of genuine connections to help shape who we become.

Readers describe Saint Anything as a realistic portrayal of teenage life that handles serious themes with care. The story resonates with teens who feel invisible or overshadowed by siblings. Readers appreciate: - The authentic depiction of friendship and family dynamics - Mac and Layla's supportive presence in Sydney's life - The pizza shop setting and food descriptions - Treatment of complex issues like addiction and consent Common criticisms: - Slow pacing in the first third - Too much focus on Sydney's brother - Some found Sydney passive as a protagonist - Repetitive internal monologue Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (96,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (500+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4.4/5 (200+ ratings) "The friendship between Sydney and Layla felt real and earned," notes one Goodreads reviewer. Others praised the "honest portrayal of guilt by association." Some readers called out the "realistic parent-child tensions" and "accurate sibling dynamics."

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🌟 Like her protagonist Sydney, Sarah Dessen worked at a pizza parlor during her teenage years, drawing from this experience to create authentic details about Seaside Pizza in the novel. 📚 "Saint Anything" was Dessen's 12th novel, but it was the first time she wrote from the perspective of a character who wasn't the family's main focus - Sydney lives in her charismatic brother's shadow. 🎭 The Saint Christopher medallion that inspired the book's title came from Dessen's personal experience - she found one in a drawer while writing the novel and incorporated it into the story. 🌙 The book explores the complex dynamics of invisible children - those who fade into the background while their siblings command attention - a theme Dessen noticed in many families during her years of writing about teenagers. 🎨 The cover art went through multiple iterations before settling on the final design featuring a Ferris wheel, which symbolizes both the carnival where key events occur and the cyclical nature of Sydney's emotional journey.