Along for the Ride by Dessen - Sarah (2010) Paperback

Just like every other of Dessen's book, I thoroughly enjoyed this one.

It's great to see YA books that are about a journey more than, or instead of a romance. Any romance in this story took a back seat to the journey and growing up that the main character had to do over the summer before college.

Auden decides to spend the summer with her father and his new wife and their new baby. While there, she discovers things she didn't really know or notice about her dad. She discovers some things she missed out on in her life until this point. And she finds friends who help her have some experiences she'd been lacking.

I loved the relationships that Auden formed while visiting her dad. Starting with the relationship she ended up having with Heidi and Maggie, and going further into the relationship with Eli and even redefining her relationship with her mom and dad.

I only recently discovered this author, whose work is marketed as Young Adult, but I’m very impressed with her work, period. She considers themes and issues of interest to teenagers, but they should also actually appeal to any reader who is interested in people and how they interact with each other. And Dessen never, ever writes down to her readers. She expects you to pay attention and think about what you’re reading regardless of your age.

Auden West (named after the poet), having just been valedictorian of an academically elite high school, is facing her last summer before going off to an equally elite college. With two professors for parents, academic achievement is what she does (“school was my solace”), but she’s not sure that even she can put up with her excessively demanding mother for three more months. So she goes off to the little beach town of Colby (which feels like it’s probably on the North Carolina banks, though the author never says) to visit her divorced and remarried father for eight weeks. Her stepmother, Heidi, twenty years younger than her Dad, has just become a mother herself, and Auden hopes the summer will be restful. Boy, is she mistaken. Her Dad is struggling with his second novel (and has been for years), Heidi is struggling with postpartum issues, and Auden suddenly finds herself trying to deal with them both.

Heidi owns a successful beach shop but she can’t manage that and her constantly screaming infant, too, so Auden gets drafted to handle the books. And the three girls who work with the customers turn out to be her entree into the social world she’s never had time for -- or much interest in, actually. With their help, she will learn to be a girl.

Auden became an insomniac when her parents’ marriage was collapsing a few years before, and now she’s in the habit of going out to drive around and drink coffee as the sun goes down and crashing for eight hours when it rises again. She has her breakfast when other people are getting off work. But she turns out not to be the only one. She gradually meets the guys who work at the bike shop, too, the manager of which is twenty-year-old Eli, who has his own reasons for hiding from the world. And Eli decides to escort her on her quest -- she didn’t know she was even on a quest, but he convinces her -- to experience all the things she missed in high school. Like bowling. And food fights. And throwing newspapers. And eating pie at Clyde’s laundromat and cafe. Maybe she can learn to be normal yet.

Dessen is very good at creating fully-rounded characters, as she demonstrates here. Her father, always selfish and inconsiderate, but Auden loves him despite that. Heidi, who is much smarter and stronger than she seems at first. Maggie, from the shop, who becomes Auden’s best friend in Colby, and who is both a girly-girl who is deeply conversant with the finer points of brands of jeans and flip-flops, and who loves anything pink, but is also the smartest person in town -- and, in fact, is heading to the same high-powered college as Auden. She’s also a mean BMX competitor and teaches Auden to ride a bike -- something else she missed learning as a kid. I’m going to be gradually reading my way through this author’s complete works with great anticipation.

I must admit, I did everything I could before writing this review. I checked my e-mail at least 10 times, I watched an old episode of Friends, I snacked on sunflower seeds. It's not that I didn't want to write the review because I didn't like the book, it's quite the opposite. I knew that once I wrote the review, I would be done, moving onto another book. The truth of the matter was, I didn't want to be done with Dessen's book.

Along for the Ride is about 18 year old Auden, a remarkably smart girl who's parents divorced when she was younger after years of bickering. She became an insomniac, avoiding her problems by staying awake, studying at a nearby cafe. Meanwhile, being raised by two academic parents, Auden organized her life around school - she could answer any educational question, yet barely had any friends and missed out on every important childhood landmark (prom, bowling, learning to ride a bike..) After a strangely inspirational message from her older brother Hollis, Auden decides to spend the summer before her freshman year of college in Colby with her father, his new extremely cheerful wife, and their even newer baby, Thisbe. There, Auden discovers something about herself through interactions with Heidi, her stepmother; babysitting Thisbe; working at a clothing store with girls her age; and, above all, meeting the mysterious Eli who helps her rebuild her past.

The story talks about love, redemption, and second chances. It's about how it's never too late to rediscover yourself and grab hold of your present.

I really loved Along for the Ride. The characters were interesting, deep, and always surprising. Yes, as many young adult books, the plot was a bit predictable, but that didn't matter. Along for the Ride took you away from your life and put you into Auden's. It's the perfect young adult book - one that presents a problem and finds ways to solve it.

The main characters were incredibly real - everyone had one of them in high school. There was the beautiful Maggie who was actually smarter than she looked. The party girl Leah, and the big mistake Jake. There was Eli, the secretive love interest with a heart of gold. And Adam, the extremely affectionate best friend. And then there was Auden, a girl with a secret of her own, who was still trying to figure herself out.

I loved so much about the book. I loved that I could actually see Colby - I knew the map of it like my own neighborhood. I loved that everyone went to the Gas/Gro before going out because in the past I had a similar place. And I loved the importance of the summer - the last for everyone before college. How important it was to make it "the best of times," because at that age, everyone wants to.

The writing was spot on, incredibly detailed and relatable. It's a book you could pick up and easily slide back into Dessen's world. I liked the hope it brought, as well as the message. I liked how Eli and Auden hung out at night because neither could sleep. How the world is so much different once people are asleep. And now, I too now look at the houses around me and wonder why someone else might be awake at 1am. What's their story?

There was one quote that I especially enjoyed. Towards the beginning, the girls stock up on food at the Gas/Gro. After Auden asks why they do it, night after night, Esther replies "I don't know. It's like, we're headed out somewhere. You never know what's going to happen. So you stop for supplies." Indeed.

Along for the Ride is the perfect summer read - set at the beach, you could practically hear the waves pouring out of the pages. It's the first book I've read of Sarah Dessen's and definitely won't be my last. In fact, I might have already set up a book store trip with my own group of friends to get another.

Sarah Dessen's books are incredibly comforting. I've been reading them for over a decade now and her characters and timeless situations still hold meaning year after year. While "This Lullaby" will always be my favorite (closely followed by "Just Listen"), "Along for the Ride" has great staying power.

As a child of divorce, I was really able to relate to Auden's struggle and method of dealing with the strife. She turns inward and insomniac to keep herself aloof. But the folks of Colby won't let her stay hidden! Dessen's characters are all beautifully drawn but never over-described. The men...flawed but dreamy.

I'm holding back a star because of how Dessen only skirted on the mental health issue shown here. Yes, there are different ways of addressing and coping, but she's dealt with harder issues better in the past. But overall a great read and a town you cannot wait to visit!

Still good, loved the characters! Enjoyed the story. Great!
Picked this up because I liked the last 2 that I read of hers and I would like to continue for a bit, of no paranormal. It’s a nice break.

However I wasn’t as impressed with this one as I was with the last 2 that I read. Maybe it was my mood or maybe it just wasn’t that great as the last 2.

Still A TON of drinking (which I still don’t understand) bummer…

Still… I felt that the main character Auden really needed to get up yell and stand up to her dad & mom a whole heck of a lot sooner, okay, that was the idea.point of the novel I guess- her SUPER SLOW transformation and coming out of shell thing, but I kept hating the parents through the whole thing then in the end it’s like, HEY they aren’t SOOOO bad just super self-absorbed and always will be because people don’t change, or they do, or whatever!

However I did like Heidi the step-mom and I loved she (the author) showed the “new mother/crying all the time baby/doesn’t know what to do” thing because I’m sure at some point or another just about all Mom’s felt that way.

I did like the girls that Auden meets and eventually becomes friends with, I loved the individuality of each of them and

Overall: Good but not amazing.

Drugs/Alcohol: heavy
Sexual Content: mild
Violence: mild
Language: mild (I think, can’t remember)

My #SarahDessenMarathon is almost finished! Two more books!

We finally returned to the infamous Colby! This means that the Last Chance Grill from Keeping the Moon is a popular place in this book as well – and making me crave onion rings (and I don’t even like onion rings). Fun fact: Isabel and Morgan from Keeping the Moon are close friends with Auden’s stepmother, Heidi. We also run into Jason Talbot, the nerdy and academically driven boyfriend/ex-boyfriend from The Truth About Forever.

Auden is the golden child in her family. She’s academically driven, does everything her parents ask, and never “stirs the pot” with typical teenage problems and attitudes. Finally the summer before she leaves for college she decides to spend it with her father, Robert, stepmother, Heidi, and newborn half-sister, Thisbe. Eli, Auden’s love interest, of course follows Dessen’s outline of the perfect boy – damaged, but extremely caring and genuine. Auden is given a chance to make real friends for the first time and go on a “quest” with Eli to fulfill all the things she never did in her life.

The last time I read this book, I was a freshman in high school…six years ago… Re-reading it now, I feel something different. I feel like it’s missing something, but I can’t figure out what. I noticed it wasn’t jam packed with perfect life quotes like Dessen’s other novels. I loved the book, but it didn’t leave me with that over-warming fuzzy feeling like others have.

Auden has never been a kid. She was basically born into adulthood, which means no bike riding, no food fights, no gossip. Nothing. Instead, she was her academic mother’s mini-me trying to cope with her parents’ divorce while swimming in a pool of high expectations. All the stress of being an adult at 12 lead to a horrible insomniac. But once she decides to visit her father at his beach house with his new wife and baby for the summer, time reverses, and she gets to live her childhood again. With the help of Eli, a mysterious fellow insomniac, and a few screechy girls in a boutique, she lives freely for the first time.

Guys, I’ve reviewed a couple of Sarah Dessen’s books on here, and you basically know what I’m going to say. Dessen is the favorite pizza place you always come back to. It isn’t unique or exotic or exciting, but it is comfortable, inexpensive, and easy.

Yes, she has a formula. It’s the summer before college, a girl is trying to find herself and does something uncharacteristic of herself, meets a typically artsy guy and some interesting people, finds herself and new friends. Bam. Plotline of almost every single one. But the thing is, she adds different elements of to the same contemporary formula that makes the reader think and continue to read.

There is no suspense in these books. There’s comfort. And Along for the Ride is a comfortable beach read. It’s not too exciting, but the pace doesn’t slacken and the reader falls in love with the characters. Auden is endearingly ignorant of the world, yet full of book smarts. Eli is troubled and mysterious with a secret past and a hard-to-read face. Both characters blend together in a cute and easy book that gets your heart racing at the incredibly adorable (and unrealistic) parts, and always keeps you flipping the pages.

And there are real issues in these books. This book deals with loss and coping and moving on. It shows how two people completely different can somehow make love work and that support can help someone get through tough times. But instead of making the book completely depressing, she layers the lessons under the basic plot line and predictability of the story.

All of Dessen’s books are fantastic, and this one is no less so. If you’re looking for a beach read, or an escape from the insipidness of typical life, Along for the Ride is your perfect match.

More reviews at Stealingpages.com

I love Sarah Dessen and her wonderful contemporary novels! They are sweet, light, and wonderful, and Along for the Ride was no exception!

Auden has not slept since her parents divorce. She is a straight-A, hardworking student who has no time for a social life. She has missed out on many rites of passage that children and teenagers all go through. She spends the summer with her unaware dad who has just had a new child with a new wife. She meets a partner insomniac, Eli, who guides her in a quest to experience everything that she has missed in her life. Eli also needs Auden to help deal with his demons that have been following him since his friend died.

I liked Auden, although she was way too focused on schoolwork and proving something to her mother. I suppose it was not her fault because her mother was horrible, and she was definitely tough on Auden. Auden just needed someone to teach her to come out of her comfort zone and live a little. That help came in the form of brooding Eli. Although Eli had been different ever since his best friend died in a car accident, he was still super sweet to Auden. He also went out of his comfort zone to befriend Auden and help her accomplish her quest.

I dislike both of Auden's parents at the beginning. Her mom is petty and her dad is self-centered. I honestly think the roles have been reversed between Auden and her parents. They redeemed themselves a bit at the end. One of my favorite characters is Heidi, Auden's stepmom. She was caring and really loving to Auden, and she did all she could for her new baby, despite the blatant lack of help from the father. I also loved their whole group of friends: Maggie, Adam, Esther, and Leah. They are loyal and hilarious friends!

I absolutely adored the romance between Eli and Auden. When Auden came around, she brought Eli out of the shell he had been hiding in. They needed each other to fulfill a part of themselves that had been missing for quite some time. They had some really cute moments together, and I was like swoon. Sarah Dessen's writing is beautiful and simple. The plot was addicting and I couldn't stop reading.

If you've never read a Sarah Dessen novel, you are definitely missing out. Along for the Ride was sweet and cute. I am really looking forward to her new novel, The Moon and More!

Favorite Swoon-worthy Quote: He raised his eyebrows, opening his mouth to respond, but before he could I reached out, taking his hand, and pulled him closer to me. Then I stood on tiptoes, bringing my lips to his. The kiss was slow and sweet, and while it was happening, I had that image again of us so small, standing in the middle of Colby, under that stoplight, as the entire town and world turned around us. And in that moment, if only for that moment, we were right where we were supposed to be.

Rating: 4/5 Tar Heels!

Sarah Dessen mold: teenage girl with family problems (and thus problems of her own) falls in love with boy off the beaten track and must overcome obstacles to make the romance happen. Sound interesting? Then this book is for you.

As is often the case for Sarah Dessen, this book was absolutely ADORABLE! Heart-wrenching, cutesy, deeply intense, adorable. Dessen has this way of reaching into the reader's heart and finding the teenage girl within, and Along for the Ride is no exception to this. While Auden's teenage-girl situation is quite a bit different than mine was, I found myself transported back to the dramas

I loved Auden, with her intelligence that was limited only to books. I loved how selfish and self-centered she was without even seeming to notice. I loved how much she grew throughout the book and, ultimately, began to turn into someone I might actually like. Turned from someone I could have related to as a teenager to starting to be someone I could relate to now (for the record, I would have MEGA trouble relating to my teenage self). I loved Eli I loved Maggie and Leah and Ester and Adam. Even the secondary characters were given enough depth, enough personality to make them interesting. I love the life-lessons that Auden manages to learn, which to me today seem totally obvious, but which were definitely much less obvious to my teenage self. For me Dessen is a master of creating wonderful, believable teenagers, and, in Along for the Ride, she has not failed.

I also love the way the story progresses. Dessen has taken an extremely rare situation and turned it into something that can be FELT by everyone. Somehow, in Along for the Ride, I felt like the plot didn't move along smoothly or have shocking, unexpected happenings, I felt like the plot actually grew. And the growth of the plot was more than appropriate, as the theme of Along for the Ride seems to be "growth." Growth through friendship, growth through romance, growth through family, growth through new experiences, growth through growth.

Along for the Ride had me laughing and in tears all at the same time, and for totally different reasons than I would have expected when I started reading. I felt like I myself maybe grew a little bit through the reading. It's a fabulous book with a fabulous story, and I highly recommend it. It's a great vacation read (I read it lying by the pool in Turks and Caicos), but I think it's also the perfect read for a cold winter night by the fire, dreaming of summer. Definitely check this book out!

MY FAVORITE SARAH DESSEN BOOK... SO FAR :)

"You're supposed to fail sometimes. It's a required part of the human existence
-Eli"
― Sarah Dessen, Along for the Ride

This is the third book by Sarah Dessen that have I read, and I must say, Dessen really knows how to connect with her audience, because her characters are so real, and you will feel like her stories are really happening, somewhere, in another part of this world.

Auden, the main character, is an insomniac. This is because of the divorce of her parents. She had heard them fight all night and then, suddenly, she can't sleep anymore, and started going to Ray's for coffee and just for killing time.

One day, she decided to go to her father's place, which is near the beach, and that's when everything else changed. Auden was always used to being good at everything that she does, school-related. But then, a part of her, that child in her, was taken away from her when her parents decided to part ways, and since then, her mother always thought that she was alright and told her what she had to do. From her college life to her dorm arrangements.

But when she met Eli, a fellow insomniac, she started to 'redo' what she had missed during childhood, like going to parties, having 'girl' friends, breaking curfew, going to a club once. These simple things that teens normally do, Auden wasn't given a chance to experience them. Eli made her realize that maybe sometimes, you don't have to be always good at something, and failing is just part of our human existence. Here she is, the smart girl, but then, ironically, she doesn't know the simplest things in life.

Everything was going well between Eli and Auden but then suddenly, Auden decides to screw it up again, and after that, she realized that maybe, she really has changed, even though her mother obviously didn't like what that change was. And with that, Auden thought that maybe second chances are not that bad. And also third, fourth.....

ALONG FOR THE RIDE is a book about second chances, and doing things that you weren't able to do at the time that you needed to do them. This book helped me to realize that one look cannot define a person. In order to really know someone, you have to spend time with them and make an effort for them to open up to you, and you to them. There was also something in this book about death, about Abe's death, and how Eli dealt with it. Certainly, Auden helped him, but he also had his ways of coping with this problem. SARAH DESSEN knows how to tickle our hearts and captivate us with her brilliant writing.

Originally posted 6/8/12 at Melissa's Bookshelf.

Along For the Ride is classic Dessen, though I'll start off by saying it doesn't quite rank among my Dessen Favorites. I believe that honor still goes to The Truth About Forever with Just Listen, the first book I ever read by Dessen, a close second. I've said it once (probably more than that), but I'll say it again, I wish that Dessen or someone like her had been writing contemporary YA fiction like these books when I was a tween/teen. I know I would have enjoyed them at that age -- possibly even more than I enjoy her writing now.

This was the book I saw all over the place when I finally decided to give Sarah Dessen a try. I didn't want to start with this one -- I wanted to read every other book she had written first. I finally did that, and then my reading slowed down and the Great Blog Hiatus soon followed. So, it was fun for me to pick up Along for the Ride and discover that I still enjoyed Dessen's writing, the incredibly realistic (and full-of-life) characters she creates, and the world they live in -- this time, it's the town of Colby.

I finished this book pretty quickly, but by the end I didn't have quite the same completely satisfied feeling that I normally get from what I feel is Dessen's best work. I think that maybe I wanted a little more from the relationship between Auden and Eli than we ultimately got. It is absolutely great fun to read about the quest that Eli takes Auden on, to experience all the "normal" things she missed out on when she was a kid, growing up and trying to meet the expectations of her rather neurotic mother. I looked forward to every nighttime meeting between the two, anxiously awaiting their every conversation, but ultimately I just wanted a little more from them (for them?).

Naturally, if you love Dessen, you'll love this book. I still rate it highly, even though it's not my favorite. I can't wait to pick up What Happened to Goodbye and give it a go.

Sarah Dessen never fails to surprise me. You would think after reading so many of her books I would just expect her fabulous writing and to fall in love. I'm still always stunned by how much depth she infuses her characters with. The story and issues are never one dimensional. There's always layer upon layer of emotion and it always blooms into such a beautiful story. Maybe the next time I pick up a book by Sarah Dessen I'll remember this.

Along for the Ride had been languishing on my shelf for quite awhile and then all of a sudden it just called to me and I had to pick it up. Auden's story is a somewhat slow journey to be okay with who she is and who her parents are. When I say slow, I definitely don't mean that as a bad thing. Dessen has a way with unfolding a story slowly and beautifully. I never lose interest. Plus, her descriptions of Colby are just gorgeous. It's so easy to picture it.

Auden wasn't the most likable character at the beginning of the novel. She has very rigid and judgmental opinions about everyone. She was the smartest person in the room most the time, or so she thought. My favorite part of Along for the Ride was hands down Auden's growth. Watching her get to know these people she had formed such negative opinions about and realizing she was so far off the mark was amazing. I've also noticed that Sarah Dessen fills her books with incredibly strong female characters from all different backgrounds. Auden's mother and stepmother are about as different as two adult women can be, but they both represented a part of Auden. They were her role models and she learned so much from them.

There's also swoon worthy romance, of course. I adored Eli. He was kind of broken and lost. Doesn't that always make for the best YA boys? While I really enjoyed their relationship, I still like Auden's growth was the focus of the story. Eli was just a bonus. I certainly recommend this one if you haven't read it-but you probably have.

I just love Sarah Dessen, seriously!!! I don't know how many times I've said this before but she's just so amazing at writing great contemporary that will no doubt get you out of any reading funk you might be in. I was feeling really burned out from reading when I started Along for the Ride but I knew that Dessen would help with this, and of course it worked immediately.

From the beginning I was already hooked, I started feeling anger towards Auden's father, curiosity about the mysterious Eli and frustration over Auden and her quickness to judge everyone just by the way they look. So the rollercoaster of emotions that I usually get with Sarah Dessen books started from the first fifty pages. Dessen has that talent to draw you right into the story with realistic situations, with characters that are flawed but you can tell will win you over and grow throughout the novel. I love that because it just makes me want to read nonstop.

In this one I liked most of the characters from the beginning, there were plenty that were fun and made me laugh but some like Auden's parents that were utterly frustrating. First of all her dad is one big douchebag that I hated from the start, he was selfish and just kept pissing me off everytime he was on the page, her mother was just the coldest B ever and also highly responsible for the way Auden was towards other people. I just pretty much hated them both and I was upset that the douchebag dad didn't suffer a little bit more like I wanted him too. I did love Heidi and all of the friends Auden makes during the summer, the characters were all different but fun, they each had a personality of their own and became memorable. Especially Heidi and Megan, I loved the relationship that grows between them and Auden and how we get to see the changes in Auden as she begins to realize how wrong she was about these people and how fast she was to judge them. I loved the growth that we get to see in her and how she begins to let go and enjoy life. The characters Dessen creates never really stay the same from what we see at the beginning of the novel and that's one of the main things I love about Dessen. She's so good at writing well developed characters and swoony damaged boys that will win your heart and make you daydream. So far I've loved every book I've read by her and if you haven't yet, what are you waiting for?

Along for the Ride took me by surprise. I usually do not read books like Sarah Dessen's because I don't typically like books written for the sake of romance only. I tend to need grit & action & something wide-sweeping to keep my interest with a little romance on the side. So when, one night in the throes of insomnia, I picked up my Nook & downloaded a free sampler of 4 of Dessen's novels, I was surprised to find myself absorbed in Along for the Ride. So absorbed that when I reached the end of the free sample, I had such a sense of disappointment that I had to immediately download the full book to my Nook.

So why did I like this so much? Well, the first reason is that the romantic relationship is not the focal point of the novel. What is the focus are the internal turmoil of protagonist Auden & her struggle to assimilate herself to chaotic life in her father's house (far & away opposite to the structured life with her self-absorbed mother). Auden is wound up tight inside herself, preparing for college, all the while keeping blinders on to the world around her so she can completely concentrate on being the best she can be academically. She suffers from insomnia & has a low tolerance for drama. All of which endeared her to me because, not too long ago, I was just like Auden. I identified with her.

The second reason I really enjoyed this book is because of the realistic yet hopeful way in which the characters interact. Everyone, with possibly the exception of her father, are constantly moving forward, striving to better themselves or work through their issues. I enjoyed watching the characters evolve & shift. I enjoyed the slow burn of the romance as it built & can even say I enjoyed watching the two try to maneuver the rocks & roadblocks tossed into their relationship either from outside sources or internal conflicts of one or both.

Overall, this book captivated me. Right down to the setting of the lazy boardwalk beach town. Discovering the secret layers of the characters & watching them grow into their own skins was so rewarding that I downloaded What Happened To Goodbye immediately. I devoured that one too!

*This review was originally posted on my blog on May 30th, 2011*

This was the first Sarah Dessen book I'd read since my teens, and it reminded me why I loved her all those years ago.

I love Auden, I think she's a terrific, multi-faceted character. Her parents are selfish and self-important - they're both highly educated with excellent jobs - and because of their selfishness, Auden's learned to take care of herself and be independent. Between her parents and her free-spirited, irresponsible brother Hollis, she's the only real adult of the family.

When she moves to Colby, it's like a whole different world and she finally realizes she doesn't have to always be the adult, she can be a kid. She's never really had friends, and didn't think she was missing out on that or other teenage experiences. There were more important things in life than the things teenage girls seem to be interested in - clothes, parties, boys, etc. She had always concentrated on what she thought was important - school, and keeping up with her parents' expectations.

I loved following along with Auden's transformation over the summer. She learns that people aren't always what they appear, and that if you look deeper than the surface, you might be surprised. That's true of herself too - she's always been a certain person and she realizes she doesn't have to be that person, she can break away and be whoever she wants to be.

I felt like I was along for the ride that Auden was taking, and I didn't want it to end. This is the first truly excellent book I've read in awhile, and I can't wait to read more of Sarah's books. In fact, when I'm done reading her newer books, I think I'll reread the three of hers that I read as a teen - That Summer, Someone Like You, and Keeping the Moon.

Auden es la chica perfecta. Se esfuerza demasiado y se mete en libros sacando calificaciones perfectas y entrando a una de las universidades más prestigiosas del país. Todo eso ha sido para demostrarles a sus padres lo importante que es. Sin embrago se ha perdido de algo mientras era la hija perfecta: su niñez, su adolescencia.
Y esto le agregamos que sus padres pelean todas las noches, camino al divorcio. Entonces Auden pierde el sueño, ya no duerme por las noches y nadie lo nota. Y entonces sucede: el divorcio. Su hermano Hollis esta lejos en Europa sin que eso le importe. Su padre se ha ido dejando atrás a su madre autoritaria y a la pobre de Auden.
Pero ese verano no será igual que los otros, no. Auden decide hacer algo de su verano yendo a casa de su padre con su madrastra Heidi y su nueva pequeña hermanastra bebe, Thisbe. Al principio nada es fácil. Pero mientras Auden se va metiendo en el ambiente de la playa y los adolescentes todo se vuelve mejor.
Y conoce a Eli, un chico que sufre de insomnio como ella, con quien pasa todas las noches en busca de aventura, en busca de completar la "búsqueda", donde Eli le enseña a Auden todo lo que se perdió en su adolescencia.
Este puede no ser de mis libros favoritos de Dessen porque se centra más en el valorarse y encontrarse a uno mismo que en el romance de Eli y Auden, sin embargo, no me decepcionó ya que fue algo diferente, fresco y sin duda me fascino, adoro a Eli (pero si me dieran a escoger, me quedo con Dexter o Nate, definitivo).
Lo que me encanta y fascina de esta autora, y siempre lo he dicho, es como combina sus libros. En este libro hay muchas referencias a lock and key (cada vez que veía una, lanzaba un grito emocionado) y me encanta encontrarlas y relacionarlas, es como "que pequeño es el mundo".
Auden… es una chica dura, fría y calculadora. ¿Quién no lo sería con su infancia? A veces me desesperaba, pero me cayó bien la mayor parte del libro. Es una chica que ha sido controlada por su madre toda su vida y se centra demasiado en los estudios.
Por otro lado esta Eli, el chico guapo y misterioso de la ciudad que esta lleno de secretos y dolor. Cuando Eli y Auden cruzan sus caminos todo se vuelve divertido y genial, una historia de amor encantadora.
Y tenemos a Maggie, Leah y Esther. El trío de chicas locas. Maggie es inteligente y adora las bicicletas (el deporte favorito del pueblo). Leah es la chica loca, desatada que quiere ligar chicos guapos en verano. Y Esther es la tranquila con opiniones sensatas.
Luego están los chicos, Jake, el rompecorazones. Y Adam, el tierno chico enamorado. Personalmente amé a Adam a veces más que a Eli, es que es tan lindo y perfecto♥
Y… es todo, el libro es algo gordito pero se lee fácil y de volada.
Lo recomiendo si quieres una historia de amor, algo de drama y mucho verano.

Read my full review at [...]

Auden's life has always been about school--grades, weighted GPAs, admission to college... But she and her life changed when she stepped at the beautiful beach town where her father and his new family lives. There she met three girls whom she never thought would be her friends, and a couple of boys that made her summer even more interesting. And then theres Eli, the intriguing boy who doesn't talk to anybody but her. They end up spending time together during the night, store-going, drinking coffee, and eating pies. Suddenly, insomnia looks like a good thing! Not that I want one, but if I'm going to spend the night just like Auden and Eli, then I might consider it too. Together, they took on a journey where each of them realized how important second chances are... that no matter how many times you failed in life, the important thing is how many times you are willing to try again.

It's hard to start a review when I'm too excited and yet out of words to describe exactly what I think about a book. It was a mixed emotions and it was indescribable. It's the kind of feeling that I want to experience over and over again, as if I couldn't get enough of it. Now I understand why most readers knows and loves Sarah Dessen. Read one of her stories and you might end up wanting more. Surely she knows how to write a perfect love story. And maybe there's no such thing as perfect though, but this one is close!

If you love summer, you'll love it even more! Along for the Ride gave me just enough of everything I want. The setting is beautiful, the characters are likable. The story is emotional with lots of drama and it deals with the issues about family, friendship, love and even death. They will keep you turning the pages and reading more... wanting more... Who wouldn't want a summer on the beach, with new found friendships and a blossoming romance with a cute boy? I love Eli and I love Auden. I still think about them often and I feel happy every time.

This is the first book I read written by Sarah Dessen, and it won't definitely be the last one. Though there are parts where I find them far too detailed, it was still beautiful and enjoying. I love Sarah Dessen's writing and I became her new fan after reading this book. I recommend it to everyone who needs a dose of drama, who loves realistic fiction and who wants to read the blooming of a delicious romance. Pick a Sarah Dessen's book, pick this one!

*Note: May not be spoiler-free.* I loved this book, plain and simple. It was everything I needed at the moment...

Yesterday, I was feeling pretty blue and in the mood for some romance-filled, emotional novel. And I picked well. As a child of divorce, I related so well with the main character, Auden. Auden's parents are semi-selfish, ambitious, driven, and who sometimes completely ignore their daughter. Taking her for granted, caring little of what she does on a day-to-day. It was pretty sad. Now, I'm not saying my parents were exactly like that, but I often felt as Auden did: alone and so sure that I had to become an adult to please my parents and keep their attention on me. So, to say that I could truly empathize with this girl is probably the biggest understatement of the year. And seeing how Auden turned out because of all the decisions she felt she had to make, made me shutter... Only because for awhile I saw that person in myself a time or two or a hundred. She was so stiff and stern and polite. As smooth and as blank as an empty canvas. And seeing her evolve, and shift into the person she was meant to be was moving and hilarious at the same time. To say that she was probably one of the most clueless teens I've ever encountered is a huge truth. It was fun reading as she learned the ways of an adolescent: the gossip, the confrontations, the shopping, the hanging out, boys 101. Extremely funny.

Eli, Auden's love interest, was another great character! It's always heartwarming to me, when I get the chance to read about characters that touch each others lives in the subtlest yet most profound of ways. Like Auden, Eli was lost, wandering around, not knowing how to move on with his life particularly after the death of his best friend. Blame, guilt, self-doubt are all key emotions in not only Eli but the book as a whole. And watching the other characters overcome that was worthwhile!

The story itself is rich with comedy and meaning. I don't think there was ever point in my reading experience of this book that I wasn't engaged in the story, totally engrossed. Even though it's merely a story of one girl-nothing out of the ordinary about that-it felt significant somehow. Like whatever message Dessen wanted to send out with this book was essential to my growth as a person. Vital. I didn't want to stop reading until I fully absorbed what this book was trying to say. Forgiveness was big and evident, at least for me, in the novel. I felt like the cast had to forgive not only each other but themselves. Auden for trying to please her parents instead of staying true to who she was. Eli for an accident he thinks is his fault and wasting all that time blaming himself for it. Auden's father for being selfish and thoughtless. Heidi, Auden's stepmother, for allowing her husband to be careless and less than supportive. The list goes on... and I picked up that forgiving yourself could be the very thing you need to get going in life. Don't you just love when books teach you things like that?

Plus, I mentioned in my Quick Thinking section that Auden realizes there's more to a person than what's visible on the surface, and Maggie, another amazing character in the novel, attests to that. Reading as Auden instantly placed Maggie into a slot, automatically judging her without knowing her, and as Maggie continually proves to be much more than meets the eye, that age-old cliché 'Never judge a book by it's cover' quickly comes to mind as well as any other suitable trite proverbs you can whip up. And in reading with that concept in my mind, I think I'm going to take that into consideration the next time I meet someone, especially so that I don't sound stupid when they prove me wrong for judging based on a first impression.

The ending was definitely a slam-dunk! Big time! It's been awhile since I've been utterly satisfied by the way a novel closes, especially one I turn up loving. The characters were happy when I turned the last page, and that's all I really needed. I'm happy to say that Along for the Ride was a wonderful read! I can't wait to pick up many more Sarah Dessen novels. I'm now, officially, a fan. :)

Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen
Autumn, a young teen girl leaves her mother and her followers from college to spend some time with her father and his new wife and their brand new baby.
After they have pawned the baby onto her quite a few times she's able to calm the child. A local boy likes her company and they are able to spend some time together.
Her father is a writer and is not contributing to the care of the child. Heidi tries to allow her husband to spend time with the new baby and his daughter but it's just not working out.
Her brother and mother also come into play during the book and it's weird how she reacts with them. Love the nightly jaunts Eli takes her on, so glad she does get to have a childhood, one very similar to the one I grew up with because we lived near our relatives.
Lessons she learns are hilarious as she does them. Problems arise and she wonders how long she will remain there for the summer...
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

Auden has always been the ultimate good girl. Her parents, both academics, had high expectations of her. She was the one who was at dinner parties as a young child, well behaved and quiet. She did well in school, didn't get into trouble, and was accepted into an elite college. She was even strong through her parents' divorce and never acted as though anything bothered her. Sure, she doesn't sleep at night, but nobody needs to know that. She would never dream of burdening her parents with her feelings.

This summer, the last summer before she goes to college, Auden's father and stepmother have invited her to spend time with them and their brand-new baby at their house on the beach. In a surprisingly impulsive moment, Auden accepts.

For the first time in her life, Auden is on her own. Her father seems to have no real interest in spending time with her, and Auden is able to see how dysfunctional his relationship is with his new family and how his selfishness affects those around him. She is also able to see how socially stunted she really is and how spending all of her time studying and trying to get her mother's attention wasn't a great way to spend her adolescence.

Luckily there are people at the beach who are able to help. There are the girls who work at Auden's stepmother's fashion boutique, a trio who seem far too shallow to Auden until she starts paying more attention to them. There is Auden's stepmother, Heidi, who shows an unusual amount of caring and warmth toward her husband's first daughter. And there is Eli, a local boy haunted by his own past, yet strangely intrigued by Auden and her missed experiences.

I really like Auden and her development throughout this book. She has a willingness to accept her own weaknesses and a desire to become a better person. I really like the total lack of animosity between her and her stepmother and the way that Auden grew to be so fond of her and wanted to help her. I really like her relationship with Eli, and I like the ways that the local kids interacted with each other. They had such a comfortable social group with interesting routines and traditions.

Auden's parents are really awful, though. Both of them are a bit over the top in their own ways. Auden's mother is so cold and harsh, and her obvious favoritism of Auden's brother is maddening. Auden's father is even worse, and I couldn't understand how Auden could still like him after spending just a single day in the house with him and Heidi and the baby. It seems as though Auden would have realized by the time she was eighteen that her parents were not good people, but it comes as a bit of a surprise to her, especially in regards to her father.

Good old Sarah Dessen. Have I mentioned how much I love her books? Well for those new to the blog, let me just tell you that you will never hear me say one bad thing about Sarah Dessen. She is amazing and I dread the day when she retires from writing. She has such unique concepts in her books and Along for the Ride is an amazing example of that fact.

Auden, our main character, is an insomniac. Ever since she was little and before her parent's divorce she would lay awake and hear her parents fighting late into the night. Even after the divorce staying up was a habit she just could not break. Now 16, she has a nightly routine set up, driving around, all night diners, the works. Her mom has always treated Auden as an adult and never much cared what she did as long as she stayed out of trouble. But Auden is stuck in a rut. Then comes an email from her stepmom who invited Auden to visit her dad for the summer and spend time with her newborn little sister, Thisby. On a whim, Auden agrees to go.

When she arrives at her dad's she finds her stepmom completely overwhelmed with colicy Thisby who never seems to stop crying and finds her dad holed up in his study writing the same novel he has been working on for years. To escape the madness Auden agrees to become her streomom's unofficial accountant for her clothing boutique on the beach. But being in a different town doesn't stop Auden's insomniatic tendencies. On her nightly adventures she meets Eli, fellow insomniac who shows her how to do the nighttime right. From secret pie shops to shopping for anything and everything at the 24 hour superstore. But Eli is a mystery unto himself and when Auden learns that he suffered a tragic loss and doesn't talk to anyone in town but her she's unsure how to react. A great love story of where the characters don't realize they are in love till the very end.

Second Sarah Dessen book. And I loved it. I really love the way Dessen writes. None of her characters are perfect. All flawed. And it makes it more realistic. No one is perfect and it makes a character hard to relate to if they seem to have everything put together. Auden and Eli don't have it all together. Far from it, and it makes the characters such a treat to read about.

I really felt for Auden through this book. Both her mother and father seem to be jerks. Yes, jerks. Auden's mother wants her to be study driven only with only the casualness of relationships, friends or boyfriends, thinking it is better to never make any real connections in life with people. While her father, on the other hand, is being selfish in the way he is living with his new family. He can't help with the baby for this or that reason, while Heidi, unfortunately, seems to fall into a deep depression because of that. And all in the middle is Auden. The girl doesn't have it easy!

I don't know if this seems to be a theme with Sarah Dessen books, since I have only read two, but like The Truth about Forever, I like the idea that these two broken people are what each other needs to finally heal. To get back on that bike, so to speak. Beautifully written.

This was an audiobook for me and I really liked the reader. I didn't care for her male voices at first. But about halfway through I kind of forgot to notice and was just able to lose myself in the story. It was a great book to listen to. Overall, it was a fantastic book. Funny, great characters, great plot, it just doesn't get much better than this! I highly recommend both the book and the author for a great read. All I am wondering now is, what took me so long to try out Dessen's books?

Book Basics
Title: Along for the Ride
Author: Sarah Dessen
Published June 11th 2009 by Viking Juvenile
Format Read: Library e-book
Number of pages:399

Book Stats
Setting: A small beach town

A Few of the Characters:
·
Auden -College bound girl who grew up too fast. She did not have the typical childhood. Academics is where she feels safe because that is what she is good at, and she doesn't like to fail. While spending the summer with her dad she meets some people who help her see life differently.
·
Eli - A mysterious boy who had had some hardships in his life, but who helps Auden regain some things she never experienced in life.
·
Maggie, Esther, and Leah - Unlikely friends to Auden, who turn out to be just that and more.
·
Heidi - Auden's stepmother, who proves to be more than Auden first thought she was.

What made me keep turning the page?

Watching Auden grow and learn about herself
Seeing how Eli helped Auden, but also how Auden helped Eli without realizing it
Wanting Auden to find a balance in her life between fun and school
Observing Auden and her mother becoming closer

Any complaints?

Nope

Recommendation:

Contemporary/Realistic YA Fiction Fans

·
Final Thoughts...
This was my first Sarah Dessen book, but won't be my last! I loved this book! It was such an easy read, but it was also complex. It made me reflect on things in my life as I read. The characters were so easy to fall in love with! I quickly began to care for Auden and her family. Along for the Ride was hard to put down, and I could have read it in one sitting if life hadn't gotten in the way.

So the main character, Auden, is an anti-social insomniac. Can someone say, "this book was written about Deena?"

Long story short, she goes to the beach for a summer of fun and ends up friends with a fellow insomniac named Eli.
He's hot, haunted, and needs a haircut. She starts hanging out with him, but not before she finds out he's the brother of the guy she hooked up with on her first night in town. SOMEONE PASS THE AWKSAUSE.

But anyways, Auden finally finds out why he's so distant.
SPOILER ALERT, they spend all their nights together and eventually fall for each other. Go figure.

As much as I loved the story, Sarah's writing style drives me nuts. She went into overdrive on details that weren't important to the story and didn't go into enough details on things that I felt made a significant impact on the plot.
Also, what's with the random flashbacks in the middle of a paragraph? Drove me up the wall.

I found myself hating Auden's parents. Not sure if I was supposed to or not, but I did nonetheless. Loved Eli, which I'm 99.99% sure I was supposed to. I also found myself relating to Auden.

Pet peeves in writing aside, the story was gripping. I read the whole book in less than 24 hours. That doesn't happen unless it's Harry Potter or the internet is out.

I give this book 4/5. Would have been better had it not been for excessive details that left me saying "I don't care" or not enough details that left me going "what in the HECK just happened?"

Ever since a parents' divorce, eighteen-year-old Auden has been unable to get a good night's rest. Instead, she visits the local 24-hour diner where she catches up on her studies, or rather, gets ahead. Now that her senior year is over, Auden decides to stay with a her dad, his wife, Heidi, and their newborn, Thisbe, over the summer vacation. In the quaint seaside town of Colby, Auden, discovers a world that, in the past, she was deprived of, thanks partly to her mother. Now, Auden is ready to have everything she lacked in the past, and maybe, she will finally be able to fall asleep at night again...

Along for the Ride is my first Sarah Dessen book. Truthfully, I have no idea why I waited so long to read her novels. I think, somewhere in my brain, I just grouped her with Lurlene McDaniel. After hearing great reviews of her novels, I knew I needed to finally read one of her novels. I wanted to get of my reading comfort zone. In the past, I mostly read YA novels with male protagonists, while shying away from female ones. I realize, that's incredibly strange, but that's just me. :P

Anyway, Along for the Ride did not leave me disappointed. Dessen did an amazing job depicting Colby. While I was reading this book, I had a clear picture of what the town was like. It reminded me of someplace I would love to visit. I also thought Dessen's characters were spot-on, major and minor. The characters felt like they could pop out of the book at any moment. Another thing I enjoyed was the bicycle part. I thought it was really unique and relatable situation. There's always that one thing a person has never done. I, for one, never learned how to swim. Never too late though. ;)

I only had one minor problem with the book. I just could not understand how Auden learned to drive a car. Personally, I think driving is a much scarier task than riding a bike. I guess the whole "getting up after you fall" thing does not work with driving though.

So, after reading Along for the Ride, I am a Sarah Dessen fan.

I really loved this book. There were definitely some flaws though. I really wish Eli was a more established character than he was. The moments Eli was mentioned felt rushed. The end didn't seem to pull together properly. The book had some main objectives that did not come together in the end. It felt incomplete.
I really loved that Heidi - Auden's stepmom - became a really awesome character. I ended up loving her. I also liked how there were strong friendships throughout the book, that in the beginning didn't seem possible. The parts where Auden and Eli couldn't sleep at night and instead would have quest's together and finish together was cool.
I thought the whole thing was very cute. I probably would not read this book again, just because there are better books. But there might come a time where I crave the characters.

New Review! 1-13-11
'By reading the review above, you probably would have never guessed that I would read it again.
Well, ever since I read Along For The Ride for the first time,
I have found myself thinking back to it.
Thinking about all the characters, and parts in the story.
Every time I would go to the library and pick it up and debate on if I should read it again.
But then I would always set it down and decide to read something else.
Well I actually took it home with me the other day, and finished it in 3 days.
I loved it.
I mean the whole time I was reading it this time, I was thinking,
"I was completely insane when I read this a year ago. How could I NOT like this?!"
I so did not appreciate Sarah Dessen's amazing writing.
She does such a great job on developing all the characters.
Even the small characters that didn't really even matter,
she made them memorable.

I have to say, even after all the books I have read,
Eli is one of my favorite guys.
I freaking love him!
I mean yeah, there's a lot of great guys in other books,
but in my book, Eli is amazing.
I just love how he is with Auden.
I thought all the things they did together in Along For The Ride was just so cute!

What I have noticed, and loved in Sarah Dessen's books is that she makes all her main
girls actually have a backbone.
She doesn't make them dizty and sleezy.
And yet, she doesn't make them unrealistically perfect.
Understand what I talking about here?
In the three Sarah Dessen books I have read, you read inside the minds of teenage girls where they have the realistic wants and temptations without being obnoxious and stupid.
Which (in what books I have read) is hard to find.
Sometimes I will yell at a book because the main character (usually girls) is just so ridiculous.

Alright, to wrap things up here, second time around I LOVED Along For The Ride.
I will probably read it again in the future.

Oh and you're probably thinking,
"Why the heck would I want to read a book that's only good the second
time reading it??"
Well, it was good the first time reading it,
I just didn't enjoy it as much, but my taste in books have majorly changed.
I read things now that I wouldn't have liked at all a year ago.

-Abigaile [...]

I've read every Sarah Dessen book (with exception of Someone Like You) and had varying degrees of like as I finished with them. Regardless of that, Auden, the main character of Along for the Ride, is the first Dessen heroine that I disliked.

At the beginning, I found Auden snobby, pretentious, selfish, etc. I don't know if it's because that's the way the parents were portrayed, but I just couldn't completely warm to her. After a while I did start to find her less annoying, although, a couple of bothersome aspects remained.

In my opinion, where Dessen excels are the supporting characters, but even they felt a bit forced to me. I didn't fall in love with Eli the way I usually do with the guy in her other books. I also felt that while Maggie was a bit fleshed out, nothing came of Leah or Esther. I had no idea what their purpose was in the book. Their presence just fell flat.

But I gave it three stars. That's mostly because Sarah Dessen's books are comfortable. They're just about a regular girl falling in love with a normal guy. And after a plethora of supernatural YA novels out there on the market, it's refreshing to just go back to the basic formula. Girl goes away for the summer. She meets regular boy. They fall in love. It is a predictable formula, but I like it.

So, Along for the Ride wasn't my favorite Sarah Dessen novel (Keeping the Moon is), but it was better than That Summer, it just didn't keep up with Keeping the Moon, Just Listen, or Dreamland. Still, it was a quick read (read it in about a day and a half) and had a few funny and heartwarming parts.

It has been years since Auden has slept at night. It all started when her parents started fighting, and even though they have moved on and gotten a divorce, Auden is still an insomniac.

The summer before she heads off to college she is give a choice. Spend the summer at home with her professor mother and get a head start on her college reading or go off to the small beach town where her dad, step-mom and new baby sister, Thisbe Caroline, live. Hoping for a chance for a carefree summer and to escape the craziness of her mother, Auden opts for the charming beach town. What she gets though is not what she expects.

Auden is quickly introduced into the world girls and the normal teenage life - something she completely missed out on growing up with her demanding mother. Theirs talk about clothes, make up, boys, and more boys, and Auden isn't sure if its really what suits her, especially the girls at her job. Then Auden meets Eli, a fellow insomniac and absolutely adorable guy. He soon introduces her to the nocturnal world of the small beach town and their friendship blossoms. Auden soon finds herself having quite the unexpected summer, but it may just be exactly what she needs to cure her insomnia.

Sarah Dessen is amazing, plain and simple. Her books are so lifelike and real that you can relate to them in an instant, her characters are beyond believable, and of course her style is just impeccable. ALONG FOR THE RIDE is definitely one of her best books, in my opinion, and the absolute perfect summer read.

The plot was extremely detailed, which made the story come alive. Every little street corner popped up right in front of the reader's eyes and all aspects of the story were relatable, whether it be putting up the girly girls, riding a bike or learning how to act around your crush. All these regular activities really made the reader connect with the little beach town and made the book that much more enjoyable. Another aspect that made the book so good was even though the book was very realistic; it still felt like you were being transported to a parallel universe.

Now the characters, I think, are what made the book. Auden was extremely relatable, especially for me, and I couldn't get over how well Sarah Dessen knows the teenage mind. I considered Auden more of a friend then a character early on in the book and really got to know her throughout the story. I also loved Eli. Dessen always comes up with really cute guy characters, but I think that Eli definitely is the best so far. It was really interesting to see that he had issues too and they added a small side story that kept the reader intrigued. I also loved how even the side characters, such as Thisbe, all had personality. This made the book come even more alive and it made the story hard to forget, as it felt like you were meeting realy people.

Overall this was a fantastic book that I highly recommend; it is easily one of my favorite books of the year. I cannot wait to see what Sarah Dessen has in store for us next, while we're waiting though I suggest a re-read of all of her books!

My love for Sarah Dessen books started innocently enough. It was my second or third time in the young adult section in my local library and I was in sixth grade. After looking around for a while I came upon a book called, This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen, it looked interesting enough and I simply loved the cover, so I decided to check it out. The next day I was nearly done with it and had found out who my new favorite author was. Now, switch back to current times, when I got the amazing chance to read an early copy of Along for the Ride. You could only guess how happy I was!

Along for the Ride is truly another Sarah Dessen classic. Since, in this she creates another set of memorable characters and a story that you hung on it's every word, cherishing it until it was over.

Auden was someone that I could relate to in her insomniac and overarching ways, though both are not nearly as bad, to her the feeling that her parents divorce was partly her fault. While she is not the strongest main character in a Dessen novel, she is still one that many girls will come to adore. Then, there was Eli, who was incredible. Defiantly one of my top three faves in top male leads in a Deseen book. I loved Auden and his journeys in the night since they always brought for a laugh or two.

The plot in this is basic and predictable, though with Sarah's writing she added a charm to it that not many others would be able to do. One of my favorite parts of this novel was about the different relationships you make in life: between friends, parents, siblings, ex. It was interesting to see how Auden dealt with them and let them grow.

One issue I want to address in this review is how some have said that this is basically a collaboration of some of her previous novels, though with new characters. Yes, some of the scenes and issues in Along for the Ride were a bit similar to previous novels such as This Lullabay and The Truth About Forever, but that happens with any type of novel. Since, most novels are mainly based on the same basics: relationships, first loves, friendships, ex.

Overall, Along for the Ride is one of my favorite Sarah Dessen novels so far! I deeply suggest you go pick this book up form your local book store come June 16!

Grade: A+

I absolutely adored this book from the first page. I can't believe I haven't explored Sarah Dessen before. I've seen her books everywhere in the bookstore and yet I'd bypass them. Why?? I'm kicking myself, wondering what the heck I was thinking. I'm so happy I read this book. I just loved everything about Along for the Ride. My perfect happy kinda story. It has all the elements that make a great story-humor, friendship, first time love, self-discovery and so much more.

I loved Auden. She was a great MC with a sweet voice. I loved going on the adventure with her and discovering everything she missed as a teenager, well she's still a teen, but now she's about to go to college. She didn't have a normal childhood. Her parents got divorced and she had to listen to them every night yelling and fighting. She eventually would go out so she didn't have to hear it anymore. And eventually, she became a night owl-like me- so once she graduated high school, the summer before college, she spent that time at her dad's house with his wife and newborn babygirl. She made new friends and finally had a social life. Then she meets Eli.

I loved Eli. He was something special. He's also a biker...and very sexy and amazing. I loved him and how he was able to confide in Auden. They became fast friends-both lonely, and him escaping a tragic past- they really had wonderful chemistry. He showed her around town and she brought him back out of his shell and gave him life again, after losing his best friend in an accident. His friends, who Auden became friends with too, were so happy that someone was able to pull him back to earth and live. It was awesome to see them together, every night shopping and hanging out until the sun came out. It was so much fun. I loved her stepmom, Heidi. Her dad was kind of selfish and jerky. But eventually he was okay. I didn't like her mom so much. But even she changed.
This book was just awesome. Perfect. Wonderful. And it's safe to say, I'm a Sarah Dessen fan. I'll be reading all her books in the near future. I definitely recommend this book!

This review is also posted on Crazy for YA:[...]

Along For the Ride by Sarah Dessen

Auden is a straight-A student. Her parents are divorced, their fights were horrible, and ever since, she’s been an insomniac. She’s ready for college, her whole life is in order, her parents expect nothing less than 110%, she has to study during the summer, and she is not happy with her life at all. Her life has been protected with school and hardly any friends, and all she’s ever known is studying. When she moves to shore-side town Colby, North Carolina for the summer to spend time with her father and his new wife, she comes across three girls that are just the type she steers clear of: happy, carefree, and...girly. She also meets another boy like her--Eli. He is also an insomniac, but his night life is totally different from Auden’s. Her parents want her to go to college, but what if she just wants to have fun?

This is the second of Dessen’s books that I’ve read so far. I fell in love with the first one I read of hers (The Truth About Forever) and I automatically picked up this one. As you may already know, I love a good romance. Yes, this book is a romance, so if you don’t like that, step away from the book. If you do like that, pick up the book now.

This book is set in the little town of Colby, North Carolina along the Atlantic Coast. It is also in the summer--I mean, why set a romance in a coastal town in the winter? This is perfect for the book, as well as the “night life” of Auden and Eli. Also, the symbolism is huge. The biggest symbol in this book is a bike. I’ll let you figure out what it’s a symbol for when you get there. Dessen’s ability to make you feel as if you’re there is incredible. I actually felt as if I was in that car with Eli and Auden.

Auden isn’t exactly the strong female protagonist you might be looking for. She’s not weak, but she isn’t strong either. She’s hurt, can’t sleep at night, and has never done anything any normal kid would. I like her, and by the end, she is as healed as she can get. Next, you have Eli. He’s also hurt like Auden, but in a different way, even though it expresses itself in the same way. He’s dark and mysterious, and Auden can’t help being drawn to him, especially when she finds out he can’t sleep at night, either. They’re the kind of couple I love in books. (For spoiler reasons, I will not be sharing just what kind of couple they are.) Their conflict is beautiful and kept me turning pages through every moment.

Dessen creates characters that are different and likable, uses incredible imagery, and expresses her themes through symbols.

The summer before she starts college, overachiever Auden West makes the unexpected decision to spend her vacation with her father, stepmother Heidi and newborn baby sister Thisbe in their beachside town of Colby. Since her parents' divorce two years ago, Auden has thrown herself completely into education and ignored any pull at having a social life. Without friends and tired of trying to get the attention of her intense mother, a well-respected college professor, Auden decides to get on "beach time."

But any hope she'd had of spending time with her father -- a once-successful novelist -- are thwarted as Robert West holes himself up in his office daily, trying to grind out chapters of a new book which will catapult him back into literary stardom. And there's another problem bringing down the walls of the West beach home: baby Thisbe just can't stop screaming. Ever. Overworked, exhausted and at her wit's end, Heidi comes to rely upon Auden for assistance in navigating the troubled waters of new motherhood and a tense relationship with Auden's dad. She can only do so much, though -- and when she meets Eli, a fellow insomniac who also wanders the town's sleepy streets late at night, Auden begins to see just how much she have missed while spending her life trying (in vain) to gain her parents' approval and attention.

What I loved about ALONG FOR THE RIDE -- and all of Dessen's works -- is her uncanny ability to blend family stories with romance, friendship and, in many cases, a larger "social issue." In this novel we're talking about the children of divorce -- and I think she explores that well without it ever becoming treacly. For me, Dessen's works feature characters about as authentic as they come. I loved watching Auden change, trying more and more of what she never thought she could do, or would be interested in -- and watching her friendships develop with Maggie, Leah and Esther. Life with Eli seemed very real, too, and though I knew ultimately what would probably work out between them, I was still excited to get there. The novel didn't focus exclusively on family dynamics -- nor did it talk about the love interest nonstop. Everything was in balance, producing a fun, thoughtful read.

While I have to admit that Along For The Ride lacked the emotional resonance of some of Dessen's other works -- like JUST LISTEN, my personal favorite -- I read it very quickly and really felt for many of the characters, especially Heidi. Definitely recommend her work to anyone looking for a great read with very memorable characters.

Auden is not your typical teenage girl. Ever since her parents divorce, Auden doesn't sleep. Instead she wanders around town, finding new ways to entertain herself. She spends a lot of time at the local diner and other times just reading. Unlike most girls her age, Auden is more focused on her schooling then on the boys. It's not that she doesn't like the boys, it's that she doesn't know how to act around them. Auden has never been the type to make friends so she doesn't know much about being a teenager. Everything changes, though, when she spends the summer with her dad, step mom, and her new baby sister.

As Auden gets settled into her new life on the beach, her feelings start to change. Suddenly school isn't as important as she thought and the people she thought she knew begin to show their true side to Auden. Her new step mom isn't as bad as she thought and she even finds herself making some friends when she decides to help out at her boutique.

On one of her late night jaunts, Auden meets Eli. Eli is a fellow insomniac who is plagued by troubles from his past. As they spend more and more time together, Eli helps Auden reclaim her missing childhood but will Auden be able to help Eli reclaim his future?

My love of Sarah Dessen books is even stronger after reading Along For The Ride. Some may say that all of Sarah's books follow the same plot line but I don't agree. I have read every single Sarah Dessen book that is published and there may be some similarities but no two books are alike. Every new book is fresh and memorable, full of wonderful characters and stories.

Auden and Eli are even better than I expected. Their characters are so well-developed. They have their own personalities, their own quirks, and their own pasts. Sarah Dessen always does such a wonderful job of telling you everything you may want to know about a character without overdoing it. She never leaves me guessing at the end of the book and I love that about her writing.

Another really good point about this book was the whole story. Yes it's a love story but that doesn't mean it is cliche. It was definitely something I have never read before and I loved that it was different than past books. There is a bit of a subplot and another romance in bloom between other characters but the main focus is on the growth of Eli and Auden's relationship.

I don't think I can think of a negative comment about Along For The Ride. Also, if you have read Lock and Key, they are a few references in Along For The Ride. I love how Ms.Dessen always manages to do that with her stories.

In the end I would recommend this book to anybody and I plan on having this to reread again and again. Ms.Dessen has earned all 5 stars in my opinion.

I have read every Sarah Dessen book published. I was so excited to learn she was coming out with a new one, ALONG FOR THE RIDE, that I marked the release date on my calendar. Was the wait worth it? Absolutely. Finished it in two days time, too - it would have taken me less time but I had to factor in pesky responsibilities like work.

I love the way Dessen writes. Her characters are always real, and the storylines are believable - you can't ask for more than that!

As with other Dessen books, there are multiple lessons learned in this book. The two that I felt that were most important (and I know it sounds cliché) is "Live, Love, Laugh" and "Never judge a book by its cover."

ALONG FOR THE RIDE is about a girl named Auden, fresh out of high school, ready to embark on the next leg of life but doesn't really know how to do it. The academic part she has down pat; the fun, let loose and be free part she has a lot of trouble with. Auden didn't have the typical childhood - she was more of an adult than a kid while she was growing up, entertaining herself through countless adult dinner parties revolving around academia.

She missed out on so many rites of growing up - racing up and down her block on bicycles or skates, hanging out at the pool with friends, going on dates and even the prom. While it was great that she had such a drive to do well, her parents, now divorced, incredibly high expectations was also very damaging to her psyche.

The cherry topping - Auden is an insomniac. Nothing, no matter what, changes or cures her insomnia. Of course, this can be a good thing, too, at least in her case. I can relate to the insomnia issue - it's just too bad that I haven't met the guy of my dreams during one of my episodes. I felt sorry for her many times throughout the book.

So she escapes for the summer, leaving her overbearing mother behind, to live with her father, stepmother, and brand new sister. Is she trading one mess for another? It proves to be a summer of change and friendship and love.

Auden definitely doesn't have an easy time of it - she has a lot to face, from how the turmoil of her parent's divorce has really affected her to actually having real friendships with girls and a guy who is genuinely interested in her.

Thisbee shows Auden how to love unconditionally and the power of connecting. Eli shows her the magic of first love and where to get a great cup of coffee and a slice of pie in the middle of the night. Finally, Maggie, Leah, and Esther show how great friendships can be. Everyday brings something new and her summer in Colby teaches her to enjoy and appreciate the life she does have.

A perfect summer read.

Reviewed by: coollibrarianchick

The storyline.....

This book was not particularly about one person or even just a romance. It had many levels. There was a little romance, but it was not all gushy and lovey. It actually was just right. The book was more about a girl trying to find out who she is over the course of a summer instead of trying to be what other people thinks she is. Also about a boy trying to open himself up again after a devastating accident.

The Characters.....

I loved all of them!! The cast of characters were very well written and very fun to listen to. I wonder if I had read the book instead of listening if I would have a different opinion? I cannot really say that I have a one favorite character. They were all very complex with their own personalities, from Auden's Mom, whom is very literary and a professor. Down to Adam, whom is in love with Maggie but has not let her know and his biggest thrill is riding bikes.

In Conclusion....

I would highly recommend this book to a friend looking for a good thought-provoking read. I am still thinking about all that Auden went through to change. This is the first book that I have read by Ms. Dessen and I am on the hunt for the next!

Along for the Ride
by Sarah Dessen

Publisher: Viking Juvenile
# of Pages: 383
Age Rating: +13
My Rating: 10 Stars
Where I got it: Library

Synopsis:
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:
This is the second Sarah Dessen book that I read and I have to say, WOW! Sarah's books are Amazing, Beautiful, Perfect, I could go on forever but I am going to stop so I can tell you why you have to read this book( or any other of her books)
First thing is the storyline. I saw some reviews on this book complaining that her storyline is the same in every book and here whats I have to say about it, I love the storyline, it is kind of the same but it's like a chocolate, you can make all different kind of things with chocolate but it's still chocolate( and it's good too.)
Same thing with the storyline, it's made in different ways but it's has the same taste and it's NOT a taste that you grow sick of too.
Now that the storyline is out of the way, lets move on. the whole story felt very realistic but it's predictable,(but that's ok) and the ending? Two words. Perfect and incredible. I LOVE it, it was so...even.
All of the characters seem very real, you could relate with them. Auden, I really like, she not a girl who doesn't do anything but she try to make the best of what's going on. And we can't forget Eli, he was kind of moody around people at first but then you start seeing why he is.
This book is a perfect light read that you should read (unless you are like my sister where she doesn't like to read any thing except for action fill books, then you may skip reading this book.)
I give it 10 stars. (I know.)

Enjoy! :D:D:D

Along for the Ride is my second Dessen novel, the first being Lock and Key. I definitely think Along for the Ride was more enjoyable for me, I connected with the main character Auden a great deal more than Ruby in Lock and Key. Instead of just being a nice book it made me feel something.

This book has a wonderful message, it's never too late to live your life the way you want to and you are never too old for anything. I admittedly probably cannot ride a bike. I learned when I was young and had a nasty encounter with one in my early teens I believe, never touched one again. I really applaud Auden's determination to make up for the things that she missed earlier in her life when she was acting more like an adult than a child.

Another really interesting thing the book has going for it is what can two kids getting to know each other do in the middle of the night? Where can they go what can they see? I loved reading about Auden and Eli's routine they fell into. And Eli, what a sweet boy. I definitely can say I'm on Team Eli. I think most boys would never take the time to help Auden on her journey but Eli does. I loved how they both came to lean on each other and help each other through some tough times.

I really liked the secondary characters as well, from Auden's mom (I kind of hated her dad) and her stepmother Heidi and her little baby half sister Isby to the boys at the bike shop and the girls that worked at Heidi's boutique. They all helped her on her journey and really rounded out the story.

Since I've read only one other book this probably isn't saying much but this is by far my favorite Dessen book so! I'm excited to dig into her back list and find some other stories that really speak to me as well!

Sarah Dessen is amazing! This book was actually the first book of hers I read and after I finished I just had to head out to the book store to pick up more. "Along for the Ride," is her most recent release and I can see why she has had the success she has. It was phenomenal! Just further justification for why, after reading this book, she became one of my favorite YA authors!

Auden is spending the summer with her father and his new family (a very young and very pregnant wife). While some things are changing Auden's sleepless nights are not. Auden has missed out on all the normal experiences that a girl has in high school: friends, boys, parties, etc. because she was too busy being the perfect daughter for her mother. But her new job in her stepmother's boutique introduces her to all that she has been missing...oh and did I mention Eli?

Eli is a loner and a fellow insomniac who she soon starts spending her long sleepless nights with. Soon Auden and Eli embark on a series of quests to introduce Auden to some of the things she has missed out on and maybe even get Eli to come to terms with a loss he has suffered.

All of the assumptions and judgments that Auden has made in her life about who people, what they are like, and how they should act are challenged. Maybe a girl can be "girly" while still being smart and kicking a little ass once in a while ;) Auden and Eli were a great contrast and made for an interesting romance. Loved it!! And I can't wait for the next Dessen book...

[...]

It's a Sarah Dessen book. Just with that information, you should be able to foretell that Along for the Ride will be a charming, sweet-and-to-the-point type of story, chockfull of winning characters that you can also relate to. And it is.

Dessen's latest young adult masterpiece delivers everything you could ask for in a teen novel, and in a style that is completely her own. Her mastery with the prose is shown in how she makes big statements with simple constructions. I don't think I've ever encountered bogged down writing from Dessen before, and she keeps up the good work. This novel is an enjoyable, unobstructed read.

The story itself is charming, but I began to feel as if I'd read it all before. Auden is a normal girl with a few issues (she can't sleep at night, and she has had no childhood/social life to speak of) who vacations to Colby, North Carolina to visit her father and his new wife and baby. While there, she gets an accounting job for her stepmother's boutique and meets three other colleagues: Leah, Esther and Maggie. And Eli, the bike-riding, fellow insomniac determined to help Auden make up for her lack of childhood. Together, they teach Auden the true meaning of friendship and love.

It sounds good, and it certainly is, but Dessen is covering familiar ground, ground that was already covered in Keeping the Moon (my favorite of her books, as it happens). This is the only reason I have decided to give Along for the Ride four stars instead of five. It's main characters are new, but the whole premise was somewhat predictable.

Otherwise, Dessen again writes a memorable piece of fiction with colorful personalities and earnest, believable dialogue. Four and a half stars!

Doesn't everyone know how to ride a bike? Somehow Auden managed to miss that lesson as a child. The single, insomniac off-spring of a notable professor mother and a one-book-wonder author father, she is raised in a world of school hard work, perfection, and deadlines. The summer before she goes off to college, Auden decides to take refuge from her demanding mother at her father's house. With a new, young wife, a brand new baby girl, and a book deadline, Auden's father has little to no time for her at all.

While roaming the streets for a late-night dive with good coffee, Auden stumbles upon a lone guy on a bike named Eli. They don't hit it off right from the beginning, but she can tell that there is something different about him. Over time, as they start to see each other more and more, Auden and Eli try to make up for all the things that she has missed out on. Riding bikes, dancing, bowling, and general "firsts" are being enjoyed.

Although they are spending all this time together, these two barely know anything about one another; but they are falling for one another. When the truth about Eli's past comes out, things change for everyone.

A very sweet read and one that should be considered for a perfect ending to the summer, Along for the Ride was a romantic coming of age story, but one that those of us who don't enjoy mushy-gushy can definitely enjoy. Keep an eye out for her other books as they are just as well written and definitely just as delectable!

Sigh. How I love Sarah Dessen. Seriously. (If you know NOTHING else about me, you should know this. Sarah Dessen is my HERO!!!(X 1 trillionI
Along for the Ride is wonderful! It is definitely in my top 3 of Sarah's! (Right after Truth About Forever and This Lullaby) -Which is saying a LOT.

Anyways, in AftR, we meet Auden, fresh out of high school, and just... stuck. She has a summer full of studying for upcoming college courses ahead of her, a professor as a mom who is severely lacking, and no real friends to think of. So, when she gets an email from overly-hyper/saccharine-sweet step-mom offering to come stay with them for the summer to meet her new baby sister, Auden accepts against her best efforts not to. She didn't like perky, and she didn't like pink, which is what her step-mom's clothing store was filled with. Nor did she like groups of girls or gossip- but mostly because she'd never really been around it. She thought it was going to be a summer from hell. But she was oh so very wrong!

Everything changed that summer for Auden, mostly when she met Eli. <3 I can't even explain how much I love Eli and his insomniac self. Which is how they bond. They don't sleep- for completely different reasons. Auden doesn't know how to be a kid, and Eli never wants to grow up, and together they find what it means to find a balance. To live without regretting being able to live.

The characters, in true Dessen style, are never flat, and are rarely predictable. Just when you think you know exactly what to expect from a character, they surprise you. And I love that about Dessen's writing. No one is all just one thing. No one is JUST smart. Or just girly. or just sad. Or just perky. We encompass all of these things on some degree, and it's the best thing about being human. To change our minds. To learn.

To get on the bike.

To love.

A book of firsts and lasts, Auden will take you for a ride you will never forget. (Why would you ever want to?!!?)

So, what are you waiting for? JUMP ON THE BIKE! :)

The title Along for the Ride, means exactly what it says. Auden is exploring a new part of her life and sticking it out weather good or bad. She is getting second chances at many things, and taking advantage of these chances.
Along for the Ride tells a beautiful story about a girl who is socially impaired. Auden is a girl who is about to go off to collage, but first has to survive one last summer. She spent her who life focused on schoolwork and not a real childhood like most children had. Her parents were two professors who split up when she was at a young age. The devoice led to endless nights of not seeping because of countless fights between her parents. For her last summer before her new life at collage, she decides to leave her control freak mom to live in her father's house at the beach. He lives with his new wife, Heidi, and his newborn child, Thisbe. Along the way, she meets new friends, with new adventures, where she enters the world of lip-gloss, magazines, and boys. This includes Eli, her perfect soul mate. Eli helps her on her quest to re-do her childhood, while he suffers his own trauma of his best friend dying. He too has trouble sleeping and together they take on the word on step at a time, night and day. But, when her dad quits on his new family like he did with her, she draws back. She ruins her relationship with Eli and slowly stops taking to her new friends.
This book, Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen, was a great read. I enjoyed reading this book and strongly recommend this book for teenagers who like reading slight romance and love books. I rate this book between four and five stars because it tells a wonderful story about love blossoming between a boy and a girl. I honestly never wanted to put the book down, for it captured my heart and hope it will do the same to other readers.