Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Publication Date: June 16, 2009
Source/Format: Bought || Hardcover
Publication Date: June 16, 2009
Source/Format: Bought || Hardcover
Ever since her parents’ divorce, since they started fighting really, Auden hasn't been able to sleep at night. She winds up spending the summer with her dad and his new family in a small beach town. Wrangling a job at a clothes boutique allows Auden to make new girl friends which she's never had before. Almost simultaneously, she meets Eli, a loner and 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.
Sarah Dessen does it again! I've been a fan of hers since I read The Truth about Forever. Along for the Ride is another masterpiece to add to her collection, and definitely one of my favorites.
Auden is an interesting protagonist and one that I easily came to like. She's a lone spirit, who works hard at her studies and rarely does anything spontaneous or fun. I enjoyed watching her transformation throughout the novel, especially as she discovered independence, the joy of having friends and letting loose on occasion. It's a realistic transformation - and I say this based on experience. I liked that the book was basically all about her transformation over the course of a summer.
It's also fun to watch her fall in love with Eli, who's just as much of a loner as she is. As they slowly but surely start to learn more about each other, it's heartwarming to see how they end up changing and growing because of the relationship they share. The element of romance is also in this book, but it's not the main focus, at least not for me.
Dessen once again develops her characters (including the supporting characters) brilliantly, allowing the reader full access into their world and to go, well, along for the ride in their journeys. I also enjoyed the books' settings; it just seemed so real and it made me want to go and find a small town to go and visit in the summer. As always, Sarah Dessen does a remarkable job and I continue to look forward to reading her future novels. Along for the Ride is definitely a book worth picking up!
Auden is an interesting protagonist and one that I easily came to like. She's a lone spirit, who works hard at her studies and rarely does anything spontaneous or fun. I enjoyed watching her transformation throughout the novel, especially as she discovered independence, the joy of having friends and letting loose on occasion. It's a realistic transformation - and I say this based on experience. I liked that the book was basically all about her transformation over the course of a summer.
It's also fun to watch her fall in love with Eli, who's just as much of a loner as she is. As they slowly but surely start to learn more about each other, it's heartwarming to see how they end up changing and growing because of the relationship they share. The element of romance is also in this book, but it's not the main focus, at least not for me.
Dessen once again develops her characters (including the supporting characters) brilliantly, allowing the reader full access into their world and to go, well, along for the ride in their journeys. I also enjoyed the books' settings; it just seemed so real and it made me want to go and find a small town to go and visit in the summer. As always, Sarah Dessen does a remarkable job and I continue to look forward to reading her future novels. Along for the Ride is definitely a book worth picking up!
OMG!! I love Sarah Dessen ever since I read The Truth About Forever too. That was the first book I read by her. Great review. Will get this book from my library soon.
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I hope you ended up reading and enjoying this one Mia! Sarah Dessen is one of my all-time favorite authors, and I think she does a phenomenal job with her books.
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