If only you could really use a fail-proof system to know who was worth keeping and who needed to be thrown away. It would make it so much easier to move through the world, picking and choosing what connections to make, or whether to make any at all.

—Sarah Dessen in What Happened to Goodbye

About Sarah Dessen

Sarah Dessen (born June 6, 1970) is an American novelist known for her contributions to young adult fiction. Her first book, That Summer, was published in 1996, and has since published more than a dozen other novels and novellas. In 2017, Dessen won the Margaret Edwards Award for some of...

More quotations from Sarah Dessen

I was going to let it happen, let the tears come and the sobs rise up from my chest. I imagined crying until I was exhausted, dry, finally letting it all go.

—Sarah Dessen in That Summer

It was just perfect, just right all at once.

—Sarah Dessen in That Summer

Since my parents' split, I hadn't had much faith in relationships and even less of an inclination to start any lasting ones of my own.

—Sarah Dessen in What Happened to Goodbye

The worst thing you can do if you miss or need someone is let them know it.

—Sarah Dessen in Lock & Key

He seemed to be doing just fine. Which was what I wanted. Because I was fine, too. Right?

—Sarah Dessen in The Moon & More

relationships breaking up fin

History

15 Jun 2015 Added
26 Oct 2026 Wording changed

Previous wording

If only you could really use a fail-proof system to know who was worth keeping and who needed to be thrown away. It would make it so much easier to move through the world, picking and choosing what connections to make, or whether to make any at all.