Saturday, April 13, 2013

Along For The Ride by: Sarah Dessen

Title: Along For The Ride
Author: Sarah Dessen
Publisher: Speak
Pages: 395
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchase

Description:

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.

My Thoughts: 

Now that I have read this book by Sarah Dessen I'm kicking myself severely for not picking up her books sooner.   She is an incredible writer who is able to write YA like she's bringing you into the book. 

In this book we follow Auden West who is a very studious book savy girl but not much in the way of being a child or teenager.  No proms, dates, riding bikes etc.  She learned early on to the be quiet and keep to herself and only talk if it related to what others talk about.  With a mother who's a big University big wig, and her father who she tries to form a relationship many times.

Finally needing a break from her mother she decides to go to her dad's where he is living with his wife Heidi and a newborn baby Thisbe.  Going into this Auden didn't know how it would play out but as time goes on she ends forming a relationship with Heidi helping out with her baby step-sister and  Heidi's business Clementine's.  She meets three girls who work at Clementine's Leah, Maggie and Esther.  She also meets the boys who practically live across the street at the bicycle shop.  After making a few mistakes hooking up with one boy which went nowhere she meets Eli who was a former bike star.

Eli left the circuit due to the death of his friend and has been hanging out on standby at the bike shop.  He finds something in Auden and is set to teach her all the things she missed out on sort of like a bucket list for the wayward Auden.  He teaches her about food fights, bowling, throwing newspapers it's really cute in an odd way.  Finally feeling connected to friends she's never had she makes better progress with her mother and father showing them that she is changing and everyone is able to have a second chance.

I loved this book I felt like I was right there at the Gas/Gro.  On the wild nightly adventures of Auden and Eli.  What an incredible feeling when an author can bring you along for the journey I'm hooked on Ms. Dessen's books and can't wait to see what she has in store next.

Next one I'm reading is:

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