Along for the Ride

Along for the Ride
By: Sarah Dessen

It’s been so long since Auden slept at night. Ever since her parents’ divorce—or since the fighting started. Now she has the chance to spend a carefree summer with her dad and his new family in the charming beach town where they live.

A job in a clothes boutique introduces Auden to the world of girls: their talk, their friendship, their crushes. She missed out on all that, too busy being the perfect daughter to her demanding mother. Then she meets Eli, an intriguing loner and a fellow insomniac who becomes her guide to the nocturnal world of the town. Together they embark on parallel quests: for Auden, to experience the carefree teenage life she’s been denied; for Eli, to come to terms with the guilt he feels for the death of a friend.

summary from book

My Rating: 4.5/5

So I tried coming up with a review that withheld any sort of gushing over Sarah and her previous work only to find that it is impossible. So be forewarned, this post is a little fangirl-ish. =D

I've been a huge fan of Sarah Dessen for a few years now. My obsession began with The Truth About Forever and only gained speed after that. If you have never read any of Sarah's books, I highly recommend that you do. Regardless of which one you choose, I'm sure you'll love it.

This to me, is fiction at its best, especially Young Adult fiction. I've read a bunch of YA and and don't get me wrong, there are handfuls of other amazing novels and super talented authors out there but there's just something about Sarah Dessen's books that really resonate with me-that have made an impact since the very first book many years ago.

I love how Dessen's books always center on life and how they always hold something to be learned. The plots are always realistic, the characters so well developed and relatable that it's insane to realize they are only fictional-a figment of creative imagination. Then there's the fantastic imagery her novel's hold and how everything in the end is summed up perfectly and realistically as well. I know, I'm totally gushing but like I mentioned above, I really can't help myself.

Along for the Ride is a really really great book. It's told in Dessen's familiar and classic story telling form. I was so excited for this novel and it in no way left me disappointed. From start to finish, I genuinely loved everything about it. The characters as usual are fantastic. Auden is a great and relatable protagonist. The supporting characters are great as well. (As they always are. They are 2nd to no one.) Then there's Eli, who is another great male character to add to Dessen's list of fantastic male leads. Female readers will love him, I'm sure.

Also, long time fans, be on the lookout for a few cameos made by past characters as well as a few discrete but familiar mentions of characters from previous stories. They're always something to look forward to.