Along for the Ride - Book Review

Title ~ Along for the Ride
Series ~ Single Title
Author ~ Sarah Dessen
Release Date ~ June 11, 2009
Age Group ~ Young Adult
Publisher ~ Viking Juvenile
Source ~ Purchased

GOODREADS SUMMARY

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.

REVIEW

Having a few of Sarah Dessen’s books under my belt, I now feel confident in saying that they have a special charm. Perhaps it is that these books are all individual stories rather than a long and drawn out series. Or perhaps it is that the ones I have read teach lessons about growing up. In this case, it’s the belief that people are not static; they can and do change over time.

At the start of the book, Auden was a grade-obsessed, socially awkward, carbon copy of her professor mother. She seemed to be stuck in what became for her an awfully depressing place. Then something wonderful happened. Auden landed a job in a fancy boutique and her life took off. Suddenly, she became relatable and “normal.” It was a surprising transition.

There’s a cute romance brewing between Auden and Eli that I could not get enough of. Eli is trying to heal from an emotionally tragic time. I loved how these two both transformed once they met.

The deal is sealed. Sarah Dessen is squarely one of my favorite contemporary authors.

RATING

5 Loved

COVER COMMENTS

Classic Sarah Dessen. A stark white background with only parts of the characters’ bodies visible. Oh, and an item from the story front and center. This time it’s the bicycle. Love it!