Sarah Dessen has done it again with her newest book Along for the Ride! In the novel a teenage girl has recently graduated from high school finally realizing that during her school years she spend most of her time studying than trying to hold on to every high school moment. After her parents were divorced when she was younger, she spent most of her nights staying up and listening to her parents argue, or sneaking out with her school books to the local diner, or just staying awake studying, during that time she started to develop insomnia. Little did she know that having insomnia would soon lead her to finding the perfect boy for her.
When she heard that her father was having another child with his new wife she decided, much to her mother’s dismay, to spend the summer with her dad and stepmother at the beach.
Moving to the small town made her realize that she had missed a lot in the “girl” world having best friends to be with her through out family troubles and boy troubles. In her time at the beach she develops strong friendships, and even finds romance and someone to share her night time adventures with. In that romance he takes it upon himself to make her experience every normal kid thing that she never got to experience. Not only did it help her, but it also helped him to start living again after a tragic death to his best friend.
In the end the novel gives you the feeling to not take your friends for granted, to go out and find someone special just for you, and to accept your family for who they are. During the novel you will find yourself crying, laughing, understanding, and feeling complete when the novel ends.
Sarah Dessen has always been one of my favorite authors and I cannot wait for her next novel to come out! I have no idea when that will be though :(.
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” Dr. Seuss
Life is a Page Turner 