Along for the Ride; Sarah Dessen

Sarah Dessen has a true gift for telling and writing stories that most authors can only dream of. He ability to take something so simple and make it into a metaphor is inspiring and intimidating.

Along for the Ride does not disappoint. It has all the classic Dessen teenage growing-up-angst and love. The novel follows the point of view of the overachieving Auden as she spends the summer before college in the seaside town of Colby with her selfish father, bubbly and yet full of surprises stepmother and constantly screaming newborn sister. There Auden takes a job at her stepmother's boutique and befriends fellow insomniac Eli.

Along for the Ride is a heart warming story as Auden learns to just have a little fun and let go of the constant pressure to be perfect. Her parents are perfectly frustrating most of the novel but like the other Dessen novels I've read, everything ties together into a completely satisfying ending. Favorite quote from the book, "its like madlibs, but passive aggressive."

I highly recommend Along for the Ride and the other two novel by Sarah Dessen I've had the pleasure of reading: Lock and Key and Just Listen. For more information of these or other books by Sarah Dessen, visit her website at SarahDessen.com

I must admit, I judge books by their covers.
-Sahara